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Chapter 6-3The Road to Lexington from ConcordKeys IdeasMany Americans organized to oppose British policies

Tensions between Britain and colonies led to outbreak of Revolutionary WarINTOLERABLE ACTSWe must master them or totally leave them to themselves. Britain chose to master the colonies

1774 Parliament punish Massachusetts and the colonies with Coercive ActsRenamed Intolerable Acts - so harshINTOLERABLE ACTS

Closed Boston port until destroyed tea paid forBanned Town MeetingsReplaced elected council with appointed oneIncreased Governors power over colonistsProtected British officials accused of crimes from being tried by colonistsAllowed British troops to live in colonists homesBritish General Thomas Gage appointed Governor

FIRST CONTINENTAL CONGRESSSeptember 1774Delegates from ALL colonies met in Philadelphia (Georgia not send delegates but agreed to proposals)Proposed to Ban trade with BritainBegin training troopsAgreed to meet again in 7 months

PLANTED SEEDS OF FUTURE INDEPENDENT GOVERNMENTBritish Control Begins to SlipColonists hoped boycott work it didn`t this timeBritish sent in more troopsColonists responded forcefully

Patrick Henry: `...Give me liberty or give me death`.April 18, 1775THE REVOLUTION BEGINSMidnight Ride of Paul RevereBritish Governor Gage heard of Sam Adams & John Hancock storing arms & ammunition in Concord 20 miles NW of BostonSons of Liberty were prepared with signals to warn of British troop movementOne Lantern in Old North Church Steeple meant British taking land route; two lamps meant water routePaul Revere & William Dawes rode horseback spreading the informationApril 19, 1775 LEXINGTON & CONCORD700 British Troops vs 70 Colonial MilitiamenColonists ordered to drop weapons first shot unknown 7 militamen deadBritish march from Concord to Lexington to destroy supplies 4000 Militiamen line up at road and fight1000 British sent to help them scramble back to Boston

These were first Revolutionary War Battles `The shot heard around the world`Americans now must Chose SidesLoyalists support BritishPatriots support rebels