A Call to Arms

1774-1775

First Continental CongressMeets in Carpenter’s Hall, September 5, 1774. All colonies except Georgia send delegates.

Important Delegates

Sam Adams John Adams

Important Delegates

Patrick Henry Richard Henry Lee

Important Delegates

John Jay George Washington

Results of the Congress• Pledge mutual support of

each other.• Called for repeal of the 13

Acts passed by Parliament from 1763-1774.

• Boycott British goods.

• Not to sell goods to West Indies.

• Adopted Suffolk Resolves. Militias are formed.

• Agreed to meet in May, 1775.

Patrick HenryMarch 25, 1775 proclaims, “Give me liberty or give me death!”

Colonists Prepare to FightThroughout the colonies militias are form. Arms and ammunition are stored.

General Thomas GageApril 18, 1775 orders troops to march to Concord, MA, and capture arms , supplies, and rebel leaders.

Rebel Leaders

John Hancock Samuel Adams

Warning RidersPaul Revere & William Dawes

Paul Revere Revere’s Ride Map

MinutemenMilitia who were ready to fight at a moments notice.

Lexington77 minutemen led by Colonel John Parker confront the British.

A shot is fired, then many. 8 colonists killed. “Shot heard ‘round the world.”

ConcordBritish march on to Concord. Met by patriots at Concord River

Bridge. Shots exchanged, 8 British soldiers killed.

British March to BostonWas a 19 mile running gun battle. 73 British killed. 174

wounded. 26 missing.

War!The clashes at Lexington and Concord were the beginning of what would become an 8 year war, starting near Boston, and ending off the coast of

India.

Fort TiconderogaStrategically located at southern end of Lake Champlain, it guarded access to

the Hudson River. It also contained scores of cannon and other military supplies.

Attack on Ticonderoga

Ethan Allen Benedict Arnold

Capture of TiconderogaUnaware of Lexington and Concord, British had one sentry who

had fallen asleep. Fort was capture without firing a shot.

British ReactionThousands of troops and four generals will be sent to America.

Sir Henry Clinton John Burgoyne

Charles Cornwallis Sir William Howe

Battle of Bunker HillNight of June 16, 1775, Col. William Prescott had his men move from a fort on Bunker Hill to Breed’s Hill, closer to the British.

British AttackOn June 17, 2,200 British troops attack the American positions.

Twice the British are repelled. During the third assault, Americans run out of ammunition and are forced to retreat.

Results of the BattleBritish learn they cannot fight a war

this way.Americans learn Britain is not going to

give up America easily

Choosing Sides

Loyalists or Tories• Colonists who wanted to

remain loyal to the King.• One third of the population.

Patriots or Whigs• Colonists who wanted

independence from Great Britain.

• One third of the population.