Revolutionary War

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Revolutionary War

• ON THE BRINK OF WAR

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I. Punishing The Colonies

• A. The British government was outraged by the
  Boston Tea Party, and felt that the colonists
  needed a swift harsh punishment.

I WILL NOT DUMP TEA INTO BOSTON HARBOR
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(No Transcript)
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• B. In March 1774, the British Parliament passed
  the Coercive Acts.
• 1. Quartering Act allowed British soldiers to
  stay in private homes.

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• 2. Quebec Act Extended the Quebec border into
  the Ohio Valley, and restored French civil law,
  and allowed them to keep their language (French)
  and religion (Catholicism.)

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3. Massachusetts Governing Act

• Did away with elections for certain positions and
  town hall meetings.

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4. Currency Act

• Prohibited the colonies from issuing paper money

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5. Administration of Justice Act

• Let British officials accused of a crime to be
  tried in England rather than America.

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6. Boston Port Act

• Closed the port of Boston until the Tea was paid
  for.

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II. First Continental Congress

• A. In September 1774, 56 delegates from 12
  colonies (no Georgia) met in Philadelphia to
  discuss their concerns.

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• B. There were many different viewpoints at this
  meeting. The most outspoken critics of Parliament
  came from Virginia and Massachusetts.

• 1. Paul Revere, a silversmith from Boston,
  delivered to the Congress the Suffolk Resolves
  which called the Coercive Acts the attempt of a
  wicked administration to enslave Americans.

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• 2. Called for the arming and training of a
  militia, a group of citizens who would be ready
  to fight in any emergency.

• 3. Approved a ban of trade until the Coercive
  Acts were repealed.

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• 4. Did not seek independence it sought rather to
  right the wrongs that had been inflicted on the
  colonies.

• 5. Declaration of Rights and Grievances The
  Congress composed a statement of complaints. It
  was addressed to King George III, to whom they
  remained loyal, and pointedly not at Parliament.

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• 6. They arranged to meet again in May 1775.

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• C. King George III would not listen to the
  colonists. The British saw the colonists as
  disobedient children.

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III. The Colonists Take Arms

• A. Several colonies were now moving towards open
  rebellion. Tensions between the colonists and
  soldiers were growing by the day.

• B. The militia began drilling in the village
  greens, and the farmers and artisans in the
  militia became known as minutemen because they
  could be ready to fight at a moments notice.

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• C. Many Americans began to think that bloodshed
  was unavoidable. Speaking to the Virginia House
  of Burgesses Patrick Henry said

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• The next gale that sweeps from the North
  Massachusetts will bring to our ears the clash
  of resounding arms!... Is this life so dear, or
  peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price
  of chains and slavery?... I know not what course
  others will take but as for me, give me liberty,
  or give me death.

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IV. The Shot Heard Around the World

• A. General Thomas Gage ordered British soldiers
  to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock who were
  hiding out in Lexington. He also ordered them to
  destroy the American arms that were rumored to be
  in Concord.

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• B. British soldiers set out on April 18, 1775.

• C. However, the Americans were keeping an eye on
  the British. Bostons North Church would serve as
  the signal tower.

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• 1. Dr. Warren was to place one lamp in the North
  Church Tower if the British were coming by land,
  and two if they were coming by sea.

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• 2. William Dawes and Paul Revere received the
  signal and ride to Lexington to tell them, The
  Redcoats are coming. Dawes and Revere were
  captured after Lexington, but Dr. Samuel Prescott
  made it to Concord.

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BATTLES OF LEXINGTON/CONCORD

• D. When the British arrived in Lexington at dawn
  on April 19th, 1775, they were met by 70
  minutemen who were waiting for them.

• 1. Captain Parker, Colonial Army, told his men to
  stand their ground. Stand your ground dont
  fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have
  a war, let it begin here.

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• 2. The British commander ordered the colonists to
  throw down their weapons and leave. Some began to
  obey, but then a shot was fired by an unknown
  source. Soon, other shots followed and 8
  Americans were dead, and 10 more were wounded.
  The minutemen left for the woods.

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• 3. The British were off to Concord.

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• E. There was little fighting to go on in Concord.
  The actual American victory was taking place as
  the British were leaving Concord. The colonial
  militia used guerilla warfare tactics against the
  British.

• The British were outraged at the American
  tactics. This boosted the American morale by
  embarrassing the British Army.

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• 1. Later, poet Ralph Waldo Emerson would call
  what happened at Concord the Shot Heard Round
  the World.