The American Revolution Begins

1. The American Revolution Begins 1775-1776

2. Objectives • Identify and describe the first battle of the Revolutionary War • Describe what the Americans did as a result of the first battle • Identify the purpose of the Second Continental Congress and who they made commander of the Continental Army • Describe King George III’s reaction

3. First Blood • Battles of Lexington & Concord • Lexington April 19, 1775 • British soldiers were to seize gunpowder in Concord • 70 minutemen were waiting in town • British commander said leave • Someone yelled “fire” • British troops fired, killing 8, including Prince Estabrook, a slave

4. Americans hid in the woods and shot at the British lines These first shots were called “the shot heard round the world” Brits retreated to Boston Concord

5. Second Continental Congress • May 1775 Some wanted to declare independence, including Christopher Gadsden (SC) • Instead, they created Continental Army and made George Washington Commander in Chief • Tried to make peace with Great Britain, Olive Branch Petition (OBP)

6. George Washington takes over

7. British Response to Colonists • King George III declared a rebellion • Hired German mercenaries (Hessians) to fight the colonists

8. Colonial Response • Congress created “Committee of Five“ • John Adams, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, Roger Sherman -they were to draft a document in response to the king’s actions • July 4th 1776 The Declaration of Independence was approved (Aug. 2)

9. The D.O.I. • Not everybody agreed • Abigail Adams –was a critic b/c nothing about women’s rights in it • Slavery was also left out of the D.O.I. because of southern delegates • Turn to p. 196-199 in your Red book