Chapter 6: The Road to Chapter 6: The Road to RevolutionRevolution

Section 3: The Road to Lexington and Section 3: The Road to Lexington and ConcordConcord

Section 4: Declaring IndependenceSection 4: Declaring Independence

By 1774, the colonies had By 1774, the colonies had enough, and wanted to…enough, and wanted to…

Begin organizing Begin organizing troops – just in troops – just in case they needed case they needed them (they really them (they really didn’t want to fight didn’t want to fight if they didn’t if they didn’t absolutely have absolutely have to).to).

Make one final Make one final push to get push to get England to change England to change its mind about how its mind about how they were treating they were treating the colonies.the colonies.

In 1775, the colonists In 1775, the colonists (and a group called “the Sons of (and a group called “the Sons of

Liberty”)Liberty”) Heard the British Heard the British

were going to arrest were going to arrest some colonists and some colonists and steal some of their steal some of their supplies.supplies.

The Colonists put The Colonists put two men in charge two men in charge of keeping an eye of keeping an eye on what these on what these British were up to.British were up to.

William Dawes and William Dawes and Paul ReverePaul Revere

When the British When the British started coming, the started coming, the signal would be put signal would be put in the Old North in the Old North Church’s steeple Church’s steeple

1 lantern if the 1 lantern if the British were coming British were coming by land, 2 lanterns if by land, 2 lanterns if they were coming by they were coming by sea.sea.

When the British arrived, they rode When the British arrived, they rode through the countryside on their through the countryside on their

horses:horses:

– – telling everyone “the British are telling everyone “the British are coming, the British are coming”coming, the British are coming”

Revere's later service during the Revolution was unremarkable; he was charged with cowardice and

insubordination and forced to resign after participating in a failed effort to oust a British force from a fort in Maine. (This decision was overturned in a later court-martial sought by Revere.) After the war, he resumed

his smithing business in Boston and in 1797 opened an iron foundry, which became noted for its cast church

bells.

Paul Revere

The next day, the British met The next day, the British met up with the colonial “soldiers”up with the colonial “soldiers”

At At Lexington and Concord (7)Lexington and Concord (7)

(the first real fighting of (the first real fighting of the American Revolution) the American Revolution)

(11).(11).

The two sidesThe two sides

Loyalists (12)Loyalists (12) People who loyal to People who loyal to

England and King England and King GeorgeGeorge

Patriots (13)Patriots (13) People who wanted People who wanted

independence from independence from EnglandEngland

Some other peopleSome other people Militiamen (14)Militiamen (14) – Anyone fighting for the – Anyone fighting for the

colonistscolonists Minutemen (15)Minutemen (15) – Colonial soldiers who’d – Colonial soldiers who’d

be ready at a minutes noticebe ready at a minutes notice Redcoats (16)Redcoats (16) – British soldiers – British soldiers

The colonists needed someone The colonists needed someone to lead their Armyto lead their Army

How about How about George George Washington (20)Washington (20)? ?

He was respected, He was respected, well liked, and had well liked, and had experience leading experience leading troops in battle troops in battle (during the French (during the French and Indian War) – and Indian War) – so they decided so they decided he’d be okay.he’d be okay.

He was NOT He was NOT president yet president yet thoughthough

Despite all this, many Despite all this, many Americans wanted to avoid a Americans wanted to avoid a

WarWar They knew they’d be They knew they’d be

fighting the most fighting the most powerful nation in the powerful nation in the world.world.

But Thomas Paine wrote But Thomas Paine wrote a book called “a book called “Common Common Sense” (35).Sense” (35).

After people read it, After people read it, most most continentals (42)continentals (42) were ready to fight for were ready to fight for their independence. their independence.

Anyone who lived in the Anyone who lived in the colonies colonies

The Continental Congress The Continental Congress decided to write a letter to decided to write a letter to

EnglandEngland (telling them they (telling them they

were planning to be were planning to be independent). independent).

A committee of 5 men A committee of 5 men were chosen to write were chosen to write this letter, but Thomas this letter, but Thomas Jefferson actually did Jefferson actually did all the writing.all the writing.

This “letter” wasThis “letter” was“The Declaration of Independence “The Declaration of Independence

(39)”(39)”

Declaration of Independence:Declaration of Independence:has 5 main partshas 5 main parts

IntroductionIntroduction New Theory of GovernmentNew Theory of Government List of GrievancesList of Grievances Response of the ColonistsResponse of the Colonists ConclusionConclusion

(Sounds like a 5 paragraph essay)(Sounds like a 5 paragraph essay)

But… this did But… this did notnot mean the colonies mean the colonies automaticallyautomatically had their independence. had their independence.

They would still have to They would still have to fight for it… and prove fight for it… and prove worthy of it.worthy of it.

One place they ought One place they ought was at was at Bunker Hill (22)Bunker Hill (22) – – a place where a place where for the for the first time the colonial first time the colonial militia had militia had held their held their own (24)own (24) against the against the world’s most powerful world’s most powerful army (the British)army (the British)

Your book has a couple of pages Your book has a couple of pages aboutabout

Johnny TremainJohnny Tremain Esther Forbes wrote Esther Forbes wrote

stories about a young stories about a young apprentice, and his apprentice, and his role in colonial events.role in colonial events.

But, it was fiction – But, it was fiction – Johnny Tremain was Johnny Tremain was just like Forest Gump just like Forest Gump (who often seemed to (who often seemed to be around when be around when important things were important things were going on)going on)

One of One of 6 essential questions6 essential questions this year is: this year is: What is revolutionary change?What is revolutionary change?

This section tells you about how the colonists felt This section tells you about how the colonists felt they needed some changes – maybe they needed some changes – maybe revolutionary, maybe not. revolutionary, maybe not.

What do you feel might be a difference between What do you feel might be a difference between simple changessimple changes and and revolutionary changesrevolutionary changes??