Our Nation Begins…

1. Our Nation Begins… The American Revolutionary War 1760-1776

2. Timeline of EventsWhat Leads to War andFreedom • The Acts • The Colonists Reactions • First Continental Congress • Second Continental Congress • Opening Shots • The Battle of Breed’s Hill • The Declaration of Independence

3. The Acts • The Stamp Act required the colonists to buy a stamp for all legal papers, such as: marriage licenses and newspapers. • The Sugar Act required the colonists to pay tax on sugar. • The Tea Tax required that colonists pay taxes on all tea purchased from England.

4. The Colonists Reactions • To oppose the “Taxation Without Representation”, the colonists boycotted many English goods • Through the Sons of Liberty organizations, the colonists harassed stamp officials by tar and feathering them.

5. First Continental Congress • Began in September of 1774 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. • There was representation from 12 of the 13 colonies. • Georgia had a strong English Governor, the opposition was too afraid of getting caught. • Major decision: Draft an appeal to King George demanding colonist representation, additionally, each colony will create a army of Minuteman.

6. Second Continental Congress • Began on May 10, 1775 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. • Held to try and decide how to force King George to listen to their demands. • Major Decision: Create a Continental Army prepared to fight England and nominate George Washington to lead the troops.

7. Opening Shots • April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. • British army was sent to capture colonist weapons storage facility in Concord. • Paul Revere and two others rode through the countryside shouting, “The British are Coming!” • With 400 minutemen to greet them in Concord, the British army retreated back to Boston!

8. Battle of Breed’s Hill • Most commonly referred to as the Battle of Bunker Hill. • Moral victory for the colonists! • General Gage instructed the tattered colonists (with their few bullets apiece), fire ONLY “When you see the whites of their eyes!” • End result: The British army took the Hill but lost 2,400 men to the colonists 100 casualties. • The colonists now had hope!

9. The Declaration of Independence • Drafted primarily by a young Virginian named Thomas Jefferson. • Signed on July 4, 1776 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. • The document declares freedom for the colonists to be their own country. • The colonists are willing to fight for their freedom!