The Road to Lexington and Concord Chapter 6, Section 3 P. 171-173.

The Road to Lexington and The Road to Lexington and ConcordConcord

Chapter 6, Section 3P. 171-173

Warm UpWarm Up

• Review your notes• What brought us to the brink of

war?• What effect did the Intolerable Acts

have on the colonies?• How did the colonies come to the

aid of Massachusetts?

First Continental CongressFirst Continental Congress

• Met in Philadelphia September 5, 1774– Carpenter Hall– All colonies sent delegates except Georgia– Why did Georgia not send representatives?– Fighting Native Americans and needed the

support of the British

• Stayed in meetings or session until late October

• What did they discuss?

1st Continental Congress 1st Continental Congress cont..cont..

• They did not talk about independence from Britain– The colonies wanted to remain under British

control– They wanted issues addressed

• Wanted the wrongs inflected upon the colonies corrected– Wanted the Intolerable Acts repealed– Colonies would ban all trade with Britain until

this was done– Called on all the colonies to train troops

• Hoped all this would get them heard in London

Results of the CongressResults of the Congress• Important friendships formed: will help later

– George Washington, Patrick Henry, John Adams, and Sam Adams all met

• Colonies not ready for independence, but wanted to uphold their rights

• Meeting planted the seeds of a future independent government

• Agreed to meet again in 7 months, if necessary: and it would be!!!

• Drafted a Declaration of Rights and Grievances– Addressed to King George– Professed the colonies loyalty to the King, not

Parliament

Signatures of the Signatures of the DelegatesDelegates

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Carpenter Hall 1774Carpenter Hall 1774

Carpenter Hall todayCarpenter Hall today

On the Eve of WarOn the Eve of War

• The colonists were hopeful after the Continental Congress– Felt the trade boycott would work– It worked in the past, why not now

• Parliament had other ideas– Stood firm and would not repeal the

Intolerable Acts– Increased trade restrictions– Sent more troops

Eve of War cont..Eve of War cont..

• Colonists were prepared to fight• Massachusetts had Committee of Safety

– Headed by John Hancock– Had the power to call the militia

– Force of armed civilians pledged to defend their community

– Massachusetts had the Minutemen• Trained to act in a minute’s warning

• Main job of the committee--defend the public’s welfare

The Committee of SafetyThe Committee of Safety

Eve of War cont..Eve of War cont..

• Colonists knew that a fight would happen– Felt that a show of force would make

Britain change it’s policies

• A few felt that a WAR would happen

• Patrick Henry did

Patrick HenryPatrick Henry

• B. May 29, 1736 D. June 6, 1799• Fiery lawyer from Virginia: taught himself• Member of the House of Burgesses• Prominent figure in Virginia• Led a militia unit in defense of a Virginia gun

powder reserve• Gave his famous Give me liberty or give me death

speech• Did not want separation from Britain, and opposed

the Constitution in the 2nd Continental Congress• Elected 1st governor of Virginia

Patrick HenryPatrick Henry

Patrick HenryPatrick Henry

AssignmentAssignment• Read Patrick Henry’s famous speech made to the

Virginia House of Burgesses.• Each group will be responsible for a section• Analyze your section, then explain what it means

to the class• When that is done, answer these questions• What does it mean--give me liberty or give me

death?• Explain what message Henry wanted to get across

to the House.• How would you feel if this speech was given to

you? Take into consideration the events about to unfold