The American Revolution Part 1

1. The American RevolutionPart 1 April 1775 – July 1776

2. The Shot Heard Around the World • Fired at Lexington, MA • Minutemen face British troops at weapon depot • Major players • U.S. – Paul Revere, Samuel Adams, John Hancock • British – General Thomas Gage • After suffering losses to colonist’s undisciplined warfare, British retreat to Boston, mounting heavy losses on the way. Paul Revere

3. The Second Continental Congress • First meets in May 1775 • 65 delegates from the 13 colonies • Appoint General George Washington as Commander-In-Chief of the Continental Army • Adopts a new system of paper money The Second Continental Congress

4. Battle of Bunker Hill • June 17, 1775 • Breed’s Hill near Boston, MA • Continental Army faces twice as many British soldiers • Loses about 400 men • Including General Joseph Warren • British victory that comes with a heavy loss

5. Common Sense • Written by Thomas Paine • Published Jan. 1776 • Gave reasons for taking up arms against British • Highly critical of King George III • Became an instant best-seller • Very important in convincing colonists to support the war “ ” Small islands not capable of protecting themselves are the proper objects for kingdoms to take under their care; but there is something very absurd in supposing a continent to be perpetually governed by an island. -Thomas Paine, Common Sense

6. Declaration of Independence • Drafted on July 4, 1776 • By the Second Continental Congress • Mostly written by Thomas Jefferson • borrowed ideas from John Locke and Thomas Paine • Officially declared the colonies independent from Britain • British reaction: • Much like previous attempts the Declaration was ignored by King George III