The American Revolution begins

By Jack Garrity

• As King George pressed his rights to taxation, patriotic colonists resisted any attempts of taxation without representation. The colonists elected a Continental Congress to negotiate with London.

• However, events in Boston resulted in armed rebellion fostered by radical Sons and Daughters of Liberty. By the end of 1775, events in Massachusetts and Virginia further divided people into Loyalists and Patriot camps.

• Massachusetts

Massachusetts Defies Britain • Massachusetts remained somewhat peaceful after the repeal of the Townshend Acts and

the Boston Massacre of 1770.

Massachusetts Defies Britain • However, London resumed it’s schemes to tax and regulate Massachusetts

and the other colonies in 1772.

The Gaspee Affair • In Rhode Island, the HRS Gaspee patrolled the seas for colonial smugglers.

The Gaspee Affair • Rhode Islanders disliked Lieutenant William Dudingston (its’ commander) as

he often requisitioned food and supplies from the colonists without paying for them.

The Gaspee Affair • On June 9, 1772, the Gaspee ran around off Namquit Point while chasing

Colonial Captain Thomas Lindsey’s ship on Narragansett Bay.

The Gaspee Affair • That evening, John Brown and 67 Rhode Islanders (Sons of Liberty) rowed out to in eight

long-boats and shot the captain, then set the Gaspee on fire.

The Gaspee Affair • The British empowered a commission to bring suspected colonists to London for trial.

However, the Rhode Islanders refused to give the investigators any information

The Gaspee Affair • Rhode Island’s assembly sent a circulator letter to the other colonial legislations, which

enhanced inter colony communications.

The Boston Tea Party • Lord North (the King’s new man) decided to help the British East India Company, and raise money in the colonies.

The Boston Tea Party • Bostonian merchants had been smuggling cheap Dutch tea, rather than the more expensive British East Indian Tea.

The Boston Tea Party • With 17 million pounds of tea in its warehouses, Lord North decided to sell the tea at a loss to the colonists.

The Boston Tea Party • To help the company sell its tea, Parliament passed the Tea Act of 1773, which cut colonial merchants out of the trade.

The Boston Tea Party • In October 1773, the East India Company shipped 1,253 chests of tea to Boston, New York, and Philadelphia.

The Boston Tea Party • New York and Philadelphia forced the Tea Ships to turn around and sail back to England.

The Boston Tea Party • When the Tea ship arrived in Boston, 150 men (Sons of Liberty) boarded the ship and

threw 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

The Boston Tea Party • Thousands cheered from the shore, the raid known as The Boston Tea Party.

The Boston Tea Party • The tea worth more than $1,700,000 dollars in today’s money.

The Coercive Acts • An enraged King George III stated that “The time has come for compulsion, the time for

concession past.”

The Coercive Acts • Parliament passed four laws to punish Massachusetts called the Coercive Acts.

The Coercive Acts • King George appointed General Thomas Gage governor of Massachusetts with 2,000 British Regulars.

The Coercive Acts • The Acts allowed Gage to shut down Boston Harbor, disband the Massachusetts Assembly, cancel local elections, appoint Sheriffs

(traditionally elected), cancel Town Meetings, quarter troops in homes, and provided immunity for his troops from local courts.

• Virginia

The First Continental Congress • As Gage moved into Boston, the Royal Governor disbanded the House of Burgess in Virginia in 1774.

The First Continental Congress • Meeting in a tavern, the Burgess members urged another colonial boycott of Britain, and

for the other colonies to send delegates to discuss more action.

The First Continental Congress • The outspoken Virginia Burgess member Patrick Henry declared “ I know not what course

others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

• Pennsylvania

1774 The First Continental Congress • On September 5, 1774, the First Continental Congress met at Carpenter’s Hall in Philadelphia. 12

colonies sent 55 delegates (Florida, Georgia, Nova Scotia, and Quebec did not attend).

1774 The First Continental Congress • They wrote “the Declaration of Rights and Grievances” to the King. It pledged loyalty to

the King, but rejected the Coercive Acts that had disbanded Massachusetts’ Assembly.

1774 The First Continental Congress • They agreed to meet again in 1775, and returned home.

• Massachusetts

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• In Massachusetts, the colonists elected the Massachusetts Provincial Congress, defying

General Gage and the King.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• They elected John Hancock leader of the Committee of Public Safety, which could call up

the militia.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Local town militias practiced marches and shooting, then began raiding British military

depots.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Local town militias practiced marches and shooting, then began raiding British military

depots.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• They especially stole gunpowder, which was always scarce.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Concord ( home of the Minute Man Militia) became the major military gunpowder depot,

under both Samuel Adams’ and John Hancock’s direction.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• In April 1775, the British government ordered the arrest of the Massachusetts Provincial

Congress.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• On April 18, General Gage ordered 700 British Regulars to take the militia gunpowder

depot at Concord, and search capture of colonial leaders.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World By 10 PM, traditionally, two lanterns hung in the steeple of the Old North Church (Boston) singling that the British Regulars would embark in boats to Cambridge then march to Lexington and Concord.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World Sons of Liberty, Paul Revere and William Dawes rode out of Boston warning the countryside the “the British were coming”.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• They arrived in Lexington around midnight, warning the town, yet a British patrol stopped them, confiscating their horses.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• However, another Son of Liberty, Dr. Samuel Prescott escaped, riding too and warning the Congress at Concord.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• The news of the British march outpaced the Regular advance, so that as the British columns marched into Lexington minute men and

farmers 25 miles had heard of the approach.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• The British arrived on Lexington Green, finding 80 Lexington Minutemen and 40 to 100 spectators.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Traditionally, Lieutenant William Sutherland rode forward, waving his sword, and called out for the

assembled militia to disperse, and may also have ordered them to "lay down your arms, you damned rebels!"

1775 The Shot Heard Around the WorldAlthough both commanders had ordered their troops not to shoot, someone fired a musket.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Some say a British Officer, others a colonial farmer behind a bush, others a British soldier

warning an escaping prisoner at the rear of the column.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• In any event, the British Regulars began firing volleys (without orders) at the militia.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Next, the Regulars set and charged with bayonets as the militia and onlookers ran in confusion.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Eight Lexington men were killed, and ten wounded including the Minuteman Prince Estabrook (an

African American Slave); the British one wounded soldier.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• The British regrouped and marched onto Concord.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• The British regrouped and marched onto Concord.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Colonel Barrett (commander of the Concord Militia) withdrew from Concord Green, while

the British searched the town for supplies and the rebel Congress.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• As hundreds of reinforcements arrived, Colonel Barrett positioned the militia around North

bridge, routing 3 companies of British Regulars.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• The British reorganized and began to march back to Boston, considering their mission

fulfilled.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• However, Minutemen companies from all around Massachusetts had deployed all along

the route back to Boston.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• Colonial militants attacked the Regulars constantly all the way back to Boston.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• .

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• By the time the British reached Boston, they had suffered 273 casualties 99 killed, and

another 174 wounded.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• The colonial forces lost 49 militia, and 46 wounded.

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• In 1837, Emerson would sum up the events of Lexington and Concord as

• “By the rude bridge that arched the flood,Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,

Here once the embattled farmers stood,And fired the shot heard round the world.

• Emerson, "Concord Hymn"

1775 The Shot Heard Around the World• As word spread, militias from western Massachusetts marched to surround the city of

Boston.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • The news of Lexington and Concord spread like fire across the colonies.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • Patriots across the colonies no longer wanted to remain part of England. Loyalists wanted

to remain part of the Empire, and most people “just sat on the fence” having no strong opinion.

• Ticonderoga

Hoping to inspire Quebec to join against the Crown, Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen marched colonials into Canada.

1775 Fort Ticonderoga

• On May 10, 1775, Ethan Allen and 89 Green Mountain Boys launched a surprise attack on the British Garrison at Fort Ticonderoga.

1775 Fort Ticonderoga

• They looted the fort and captured its cannon and gunpowder. 1775 Fort Ticonderoga

• Philadelphia • Pennsylvania

1775 The Second Continental Congress • The News caused an uproar in Philadelphia where the 2nd Continental Congress met.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • Defense became the primary issue, and the Congress voted to “adopt” the militia army

surrounding Boston, naming it the Continental Army.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • . On June 15, 1775, the Congress appointed George Washington as commander in chief of

the new army.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • Most members of the Second Continental Congress wanted the right to govern

themselves, but they did not want to break with the British Empire.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • When the Olive Branch Petition arrived in England, King George refused to look at it.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • On August 22, 1775, he issued the Proclamation for Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition,

stating that the colonies were now “open and avowed enemies.” .

1775 The Second Continental Congress • The Continental Congress sent people to negotiate with the Native Americans,

established a postal system and a Continental Navy and Marine Corps authorized privateering.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • New York, South Carolina, and Georgia still advocated reconciliation with the King, while

Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New England leaned towards breaking.

1775 The Second Continental Congress • All agreed to meet again the next year.

1775 The Daughters of Liberty• Sarah Franklin Bache and the Philadelphia Daughters of Liberty declared

another boycott on British goods.

1775 The Daughters of Liberty• They raised money for the Continental Army, and began making shirts, bullets,

and other supplies.

• Massachusetts

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• Back in Boston, General Gage decided to break the siege after receiving reinforcements.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• Gage decided to build fortifications on the hills overlooking Boston Harbor.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• The colonials heard the plan, and General Israel Putnam ordered defenses built on Breed’s

Hill.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• On June 17th, General Gage sent 2,200 of his troops to take the hill.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• Low on gunpowder, William Prescott ordered the colonials “Don’t shoot till you see the

whites of their eyes”.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• At 3 PM, the British advanced in formation, and the colonials drove them back down the

hill.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• Peter Salem Poor led a great company of sharp shooters.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• Regrouping and reinforced, the British attempted an assault on the colonial flank, which

failed much like the first, and the British ran back down the hill in disarray.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• At 5 PM, the British regrouped and assaulted the colonial line, taking heavy casualties.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• However, the colonials had run out of gunpowder, and tacitly withdrew from the hill.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• The great majority of the Colonial Army had escaped by the time the British stationed

cannon on the hill.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• The British took great losses, 1,054 casualties (226 dead and 828 wounded), with a high

proportions of officers dead.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• The pyrrhic victory led to General Gage dismissal, replaced by General Howe.

1775 The Battle of Bunker (Breeds) Hill• The news gave George Washington (on his way in NY) hope that his army might win.

1775 Aftermath Massachusetts • The situation then returned to a stalemate, with General William Howe trapped in Boston

surrounded by militia.

• Virginia

1775 Virginia• Governor Dunmore of Virginia organized two Loyalist armies to assist the British troops.

1775 Virginia• One army of White loyalists, the other of Black slaves promised freedom.

1775 Virginia• The governor’s actions motivated patriots to raise their own army, fearing both the British

and freed slaves.

1775 Virginia• In December 1775, the Patriot troops attacked and defeated Dunmore’s forces near

Norfolk, Virginia.

1775 Virginia• The British ordered it troops out of Virginia, leaving it to Patriot control.

• Massachusetts

1775 Siege of Boston• Washington arrived and took command of the Continental Army laying siege to Boston.

1775 Siege of Boston• Washington found the militia lacking cannon, gunpowder, and discipline.

1775 Siege of Boston• Washington had colonial militia continuously march in a circle (with different banners),

deceiving General Howe’s scouts of Washington’s true numbers.

1775 Siege of Boston• As winter set in, the bookstore owner turned artillery expert, Henry Knox set out to bring

cannon from Fort Ticonderoga too Boston.

1775 Siege of Boston• On December 5, Knox’s journey (the noble train of artillery) hauled 60 tons of cannon

over 300 miles of frozen wilderness with oxen.

1775 Siege of Boston• On December 5, Knox’s journey (the noble train of artillery) hauled 60 tons of cannon

over 300 miles of frozen wilderness with oxen.

1775 Siege of Boston• Washington and Knox placed the cannon on the Dorchester Heights, overlooking Boston.

1775 Siege of Boston• Now vulnerable to artillery barrages, General Howe evacuated Boston with the British

Fleet.

1775 Siege of Boston• The Patriots victoriously entered Boston.

1775 Aftermath• Despite their defeats, it was clear that the British were not backing down. In December

1775, the king issued the Prohibitory Act, shutting down trade with the colonies and ordering a naval blockade.

1776 The Declaration of Independence

• Next Time…………………