Chapter 8-1Chapter 8-1

The War of The War of IndependenceIndependence

Chapter 8-1 “The War Chapter 8-1 “The War Begins”Begins” General Thomas Gage (Gov. of Mass.)General Thomas Gage (Gov. of Mass.)

1. Believed that the 1. Believed that the minutemenminutemen were were preparing for war.preparing for war.

2. Gage’s spies reported that there 2. Gage’s spies reported that there were guns were guns and powder in and powder in Concord Village.Concord Village.

3. Gage ordered 700 British soldiers to 3. Gage ordered 700 British soldiers to march march from Boston to Concord from Boston to Concord and seize the and seize the weapons. (20 miles)weapons. (20 miles)

MinutemenMinutemen: volunteers that were ready : volunteers that were ready to fight at a minutes notice.to fight at a minutes notice.

First Shot at LexingtonFirst Shot at Lexington Colonial spies reported the British troops Colonial spies reported the British troops

leaving Boston. April 18, 1775.leaving Boston. April 18, 1775. Paul Revere and William Dawes galloped Paul Revere and William Dawes galloped

through the countryside spreading the through the countryside spreading the word, “the British are coming” word, “the British are coming”

Captain John Parker and 70 minutemen Captain John Parker and 70 minutemen gathered in front of a tavern in Lexington. gathered in front of a tavern in Lexington. A village on the road to Concord.A village on the road to Concord.

As the British arrived, the minutemen As the British arrived, the minutemen headed for cover. A shot was fired. When headed for cover. A shot was fired. When the shooting stopped eight minutemen lay the shooting stopped eight minutemen lay dead or wounded.dead or wounded.

Each blamed the other for firing the first Each blamed the other for firing the first shot.shot.

Midnight Ride MapMidnight Ride Map

Midnight RidersMidnight Riders

Paul ReverePaul Revere William DawesWilliam Dawes

Lexington and Concord Lexington and Concord MapMap

Capt. John Parker StatueCapt. John Parker Statue

From Concord to BostonFrom Concord to Boston

At Concord the Redcoats (British) only At Concord the Redcoats (British) only found a couple small cannons.found a couple small cannons.

Frustrated, they marched back to Frustrated, they marched back to Boston. On the way back to Boston the Boston. On the way back to Boston the British were under constant attack. British were under constant attack. (Ambush, Hit-n-Run)(Ambush, Hit-n-Run)

By the time the British reached Boston By the time the British reached Boston 74 were killed and 200 wounded.74 were killed and 200 wounded.

Americans killed: 49, wounded: 41.Americans killed: 49, wounded: 41.

The Second Continental The Second Continental CongressCongress1.1. Met in Philadelphia on May Met in Philadelphia on May

10,1775.10,1775.

2.2. Created a Continental Army.Created a Continental Army.

3.3. Appointed George Washington as Appointed George Washington as commander in chief of the commander in chief of the Continental Army.Continental Army.

Second Continental Second Continental CongressCongress

Washington the Washington the Commander Commander

Early Battles Early Battles 1.1. An invasion of Canada by the An invasion of Canada by the

Continental Army failed when Canada Continental Army failed when Canada refused to fight the British.refused to fight the British.

2.2. The Battle of Bunker Hill proved that The Battle of Bunker Hill proved that the colonists could fight and stop the the colonists could fight and stop the British soldiers. More than 1,000 British soldiers. More than 1,000 British died compared to 400 British died compared to 400 Americans.Americans.

3.3. A week after Bunker Hill , Washington A week after Bunker Hill , Washington arrived in Boston to take command. He arrived in Boston to take command. He brought heavy artillery with him. (59 brought heavy artillery with him. (59 loaded cannons) On March 4, 1776, loaded cannons) On March 4, 1776, the Americans surrounded the city the Americans surrounded the city with cannons. The British abandoned with cannons. The British abandoned Boston. Boston.

Bunker HillBunker Hill

Bunker Hill ( Breed’s Bunker Hill ( Breed’s Hill )Hill )

Bunker Hill MonumentBunker Hill Monument