Transcript 78372_The_Fight_Begins

These two are going to fight to the death
Lexington and Concord
Colonists had been preparing for war or at
least armed conflict for some time. Special
groups among militia were arming
themselves. They were called minutemen
because they believed that they could be
ready for battle at a minute’s notice. They
had been collecting arms and gunpowder
near Boston.
The BR continued to build up
its forces. By 1775 there were
over 7000 BR in Boston. In
April of 1775, BR General
Thomas Gage ordered 700 of
his men to march from
Boston to Concord.
They were looking to seize the
supplies the Massachusetts
militia had been storing. They
left at night hoping no one
would notice.
Observant colonists did notice and sent 3
messengers to alert the minutemen. We all know
the story of Paul Revere. The next morning 70-75
minutemen met BR troops near the town of
Lexington. The BR general commanded that the
minutemen return home. As the story goes they
turned to leave and as they did BR troops fired on
them killing 8 colonists. But no one knows for sure
who shot first
The British are
coming! The British are
coming!
Lexington
Concord
Even those that wanted to continue relations with BR wanted
the colonies to have a defense force.
One of the Congress’s 1st acts was to create an army out of
the various militias. George Washington was appointed
commander of the Continental Army.
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On May 10, 1775, the members of the Second
Continental Congress met at the State House
in Philadelphia.
The Second Continental Congress established
the militia as the Continental Army to
represent the thirteen states. They also
elected George Washington as Commander in
Chief of the Continental Army.
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The second Congress managed the colonial
war effort, and moved slowly towards
independence, adopting the United States
Declaration of Independence on July 2, 1776.
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May 10: Second Continental Congress convened
at Philadelphia’s State House.
June 14: Congress established the Continental
Army
June 15: Congress appointed George Washington,
as commander of the Continental Army
July 1: King George III Addresses Parliament
stating they will "put a speedy end" to the
rebellion
July 6: Declaration of the Causes and Necessity of
Taking Up Arms approved
July 8: Second petition to the king (the Olive
Branch Petition) signed
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1776 January 10: Thomas Paine publishes
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July 2: declare independence of the colonies
from Britain
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July 4: Final text of the United States
Declaration of Independence approved
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August 2: Declaration of Independence
signed in Congress
Common Sense
Debating Independence
Delegates from 13 colonies came to Philadelphia in May 1775 for
the Second Continental Congress.
Complete Break With England
Sam Adams-Mass.
Richard Henry Lee- Virginia
Continued Relationship With BR
Thomas Jefferson- Virginia
B. Franklin- Penn.