Wars A-Brewin’Mr. Black

September 1774◦ 55 men arrived in Philadelphia.◦ No Georgia.◦ Formed to challenge British control.

The Continental Congress

Major political leaders from colonies attend. Leaders:

◦ MA: Samuel Adams and John Adams (lawyer)◦ NY: John Jay (lawyer)◦ VA: Richard Henry Lee, Patrick Henry and George

Washington

Delegates to the Congress

Leaders realized they needed to work together.

Repeal 13 acts of Parliament passed since 1763.

Called for the people of Suffolk County to arm themselves and fight the British.

Decisions of the Congress

Believed fighting would start in New England.

Trained hard and frequently in MA. April 1775:

◦ British have thousands of soldiers in and around Boston.

◦ They are ordered to take the militias weapons and arrest the leaders.

Britain Sends Troops

Dr. Joseph Warren saw British army marching out of the city.

Warren warned Paul Revere and William Dawes (Sons of Liberty).◦ They rode to Lexington and warned that the

British were coming.◦ This marked the start of American Revolution!

Alerting the Colonists

As the Redcoats approached Lexington, they saw 70 minutemen (militia).◦ Alerted by Revere and Dawes.

A shot was fired!◦ Eight minutemen were killed and the gunpowder

had been removed. ◦ The minutemen hid behind trees, building and

would fire at the redcoats.◦ Upon reaching Boston 174 Redcoats were

wounded, 73 were dead.

Lexington and Concord

Militia troop grew to 20,000 strong. British wanted to drive the Americans from

their locations. 1,200 minutemen fought Redcoats.

◦ 1,000 Redcoats killed and wounded. Americans had to retreat because they ran

out of ammunition.

The Battle of Bunker Hill

Colonists had to decide: join the rebels or remain loyal to Britain?

Loyalists: Did not believe unfair taxes and regulations were good reason for revolution.

Patriots: Determined to fight the British to the end.

Forced to Choose Sides

Schoolhouse Rock “No More Kings” video clip

No More Kings