Chapter 7.1 The Revolution Begins…Part 2

• After Battle of Lexington– Minutemen ran to

Concord to help defend the armory.• Holding place for weapons

to be used during war time.

The British move on to Concord…

• News gets to Concord that Lexington has fallen. – British redcoats are on

way to Concord. • Redcoats = troops

• Concord is more ready than Lexington– They have 500 minutemen

ready!

Battle of Concord, MA

• The Minutemen hold off the British!!– Kill over 250 British troops

– British retreat back to Boston• Never captured the

weapons in Concord

• The King is not going to be happy…..

May 1775• It’s obvious King George

is not going to give rights to the colonists

• So what do we do now? – Have another meeting.

• Second Continental Congress– Met in Philadelphia, PA

again.

What will the Continental Congress agree to do with King George?

• Massachusetts and Virginia– Want to declare war on

Britain!• Get help from French!

• Pennsylvania– No war!

• Other 9 colonies– Split in their decision

Olive Branch Petition

• July 1775– 2 months of debate!

• Continental Congress agrees to:– Ask the King for peace in a letter.• Called Olive Branch Petition

– Give us representation and we will stop boycotting!

– Make a Continental Army to defend the colonies• Led by Virginian George Washington

So what does King George say to the Olive Branch Petition?

• NO!!!! – I will hold Boston ransom!

– If the colonists want their city back, they have to give up the boycott and rebelling!

The Revolution moves on…

• Now that war is unavoidable, we need supplies.

• Two options: 1. Make our own2. Steal them from a British

fort….

• Of course we pick #2!

May 10, 1775

• Officer Benedict Arnold leads minutemen against British at Fort Ticonderoga, NY– Surprise attack during

storm• Captured large supply of:

– Rifles– ammunition– Cannons

Battle for Boston Begins…• American patriots want

to take back the city of Boston– Start a siege

• Soldiers surround city until time of attack.

– Defensive positions:• Breed’s Hill• Bunker Hill

– British troops are going to come after the Patriots to end the siege…

Battle of Bunker Hill

• http://www.history.com/videos/britain-wins-a-costly-victory-at-bunker-hill

March 1776

• Because of the heavy casualties from the Battle of Bunker Hill– General Washington

attacks the city of Boston. • Uses cannon that were

stolen from Fort Ticonderoga.– March 7, 1776 Britain

troops leave Boston! » Hurray!

April –June 1776It’s Too late to apologize…

• American colonists have rallied behind Gen. Washington and the Continental Army– This is our land and we

are going to fight for it.

• Someone needs to tell the King that this is all his fault….– We will in July.