Division in the Colonies Taxation without Representation People are dying (Boston) Parliament is to far away (they don’t know us) War has broken out at Lexington and Concord! Britain is the most powerful empire in the world We are first and foremost British subjects Our trade will suffer if we leave Britain Other nations might attack us if we leave, we’ll be 13 sitting ducks! We should separate! We are subjects of the KING!
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Division in the Colonies
Taxation without Representation
People are dying (Boston)
Parliament is to far away (they don’t know us)
War has broken out at Lexington and Concord!
Britain is the most powerful empire in the world
We are first and foremost British subjects
Our trade will suffer if we leave Britain
Other nations might attack us if we leave, we’ll be 13 sitting ducks!
We should separate! We are subjects of the KING!
REBELLING TO REVOLUTIONEssential Questions:1.Why was Fort Ticonderoga important?2.Why was the Second Continental Congress formed and what did it do?3.Why was George Washington appointed to lead the continental army?4.How did the Battle of Breed’s Hill unfold and why was it important?5.What was the Olive Branch Petition and why was it important?6.What was Common Sense and why was it important?7.What was the Siege of Boston and why was it important?
Fort Ticonderoga Even before the War started,
Revolutionaries were concerned about Fort Ticonderoga
The fort was a valuable for two reasons: Within its walls were cannons
and massive amounts of artillery It was situated on the
strategically important Lake Champlain It was on the route between
the rebellious Thirteen Colonies and the British-controlled Canada
After Lexington and Concord the Americans seized the fort before it could be reinforced by the British Vermonter Ethan Allen and
Colonel Benedict Arnold captured Fort Ticonderoga
May 1775
Second Continental Congress
Convention that met in May 1775 Soon after the War begun Eventually adopted the
Declaration
Congress managed colonial war effort Acted as de facto national
government Was responsible for:
Raising armies Directing war strategy Appointing diplomats Making formal treaties
Recognized militia as Continental Army Appointed 43 year old veteran of
the French and Indian War as commander of the army George Washington
May 10, 1775
The Gentleman From Virginia Every day Washington appeared
before the Congress in military uniform He wanted the job Signaling he was prepared to
lead
The day after Congress created the Army it selected Washington as its commander
John Adams nominated Washington No one rivaled his experience &
leadership Adams believed appointing a
southerner would help unite the colonies Army was primarily an army of
northerners
Washington ‘reluctantly’ accepted
June 14, 1775
6,000 British troops under General Thomas Gage occupied Boston Britain was being resupplied by sea
A "strangulation" would be long & unsuccessful Colonists decided to bombard the
city
The British soon spotted the fortifications Gage sent 2,400 troops up to
Breed’s Hills The third attack was successful
only because the colonists ran low on ammunition
The Aftermath: Colonists lost 450; Britain lost
1,000 Showed the Colonists were able to
stand up to the British troops
Breed’s June 17, 1775
The Olive Branch Petition John Dickinson wrote Olive Branch
Petition Said the colonies didn't want
independence but to negotiate trade & tax regulations
Sent to London in July1775
When the it arrived in London so did a confiscated letter by John Adams Said war was inevitable and
colonies should have already raised a navy
Britain used letter to say the Petition was insincere & the King discarded the petition
Supporters of separation pushed for independence Said it showed the colonies could
either submit unconditionally, or gain complete independence
July 1775
Common Sense After the Olive Branch Petition was
rejected a 50-page pamphlet began to circulate Was entitled Common Sense
It was written by Thomas Paine It was in a style that common
people understood Structured like a sermon & relied
on Biblical references to make his case
Paine attacked King George III Declared that the time had come
for the colonies to declare independence
Argued it was America’s “destiny”
Common Sense sold nearly 500,000 copies
January 10, 1776
Siege of Boston In the winter of 1775-1776 Henry
Knox moved the guns of Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
General Howe, commander in control of Boston, planned an assault on the heights Due to a storm it never took place Instead a letter was sent to
Washington Said British would evacuate
Boston if the Americans didn't fire on them
British troops and loyalists evacuated 120 ships and more than 11,000
people fled Boston
The first real victory for Washington and the Continental Army