Lexington
Concord
Second Continental Congress

Upon hearing of the Intolerable Acts, colonies
assembled
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September 1774, 56 delegates met in
Philadelphia
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Wrote DECLARATION OF COLONIAL
RIGHTS:
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Right to run their own affairs
Supported protests in MA
Stated if British used force against the colonies, the
colonies would fight back.
Agreed to reconvene May 1775 if demands were
not met
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Tensions with British troops building
British troops in Boston increasing
Colonists in eastern NE towns stepped up military
preparations
Stockpiled firearms and gunpowder.
General Thomas Gage learned of these, planned to seize
the illegal weapons in Concord.
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Colonists in Boston were
keeping watch over the
British troops moves.
Night of April 18, 1775 –
Paul Revere, William
Dawes, and Samuel Prescott
rode out to spread the word
700 British troops were
headed for Concord
From there Pre-arranged
signals were sent from town
to town that the British
were coming.

G.B. Troops Reached Lexington at dawn
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70 minutemen drew up in lines on town green
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Militia ordered to drop guns and disperse
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British commander ordered to
surround and disarm militia
Someone fired, British fired,
colonists fled
8 minutemen killed, 9
wounded, 1 British soldier
injured
Lasted 15 minutes
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British continued on to
Concord
Arsenal in Concord
Basically Empty
Brief skirmish with
minutemen at North
Bridge
British began march back
to Boston to avoid
further conflict, despite
no reinforcements
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3,000 to 4,000 minutemen had assembled

Hid behind stone walls and trees, fired at British
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British fell by the dozens, only saved when
reinforcements came from Boston
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British went back to Boston
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Colonists surrounded Boston, held the city under siege.
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Reconvened May 10, 1775
Some delegates were militant
radicals
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Others were more moderate
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Colonies declare independence
Establish a Continental Army and
name a general to lead them
Ie. John Adams
Ie. John Dickinson wanted peaceful
reconciliation
Problem remains: militia still
camped around Boston
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Sent July 8th, Discussion began in May
Colonies state loyalty to the King
Ask for His help in ending the conflict
King George III proclaims the Colonies in a state of
rebellion and hires mercenaries, also blockades the
American coast.
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Adopt Mass. Militia as Continental Army
Appointed. G.W. as Commander
Not a military genius (he lost more battles than he won)
 Trusted by his soldiers
 Refused to be paid, despite records of expenses over
$100,000
 Good political choice: Virginian, wealthy, aristocratic,
above reproach
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Began printing
paper $ to pay
soldiers
Organized a
committee to
deal with
foreign nations.
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June 17, 1775
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See Handout for more info
Vocab for Packet
Sloop of War – small sailing warship
 Lively – British ship considered
 Redoubt – small usually temporary
enclosed defensive barrier
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June 17, 1775
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See Handout for more info
Effects:
King George III proclaimed colonies in
rebellion and hired Hessians to crush rebels
 Realization more than just a conflict over
British Troops in Boston
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 Published Pamphlet by Thomas Paine
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Appealed to natural law ("an island should not rule a
continent")
Reconciliation not an option
King George was brutish and undeserving of colonials' respect
America had a moral obligation to the world to be
independent and democratic (a REPUBLIC!)
 Effects:
 Sold more than 120,000 copies.
 Firmly changed the minds of
many Americans on the fence
over the “Independence
question.”
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Who did it APPEAL to?
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People who the system did not work for (lower class)
New England who already had a taste of republicanism in
town meetings, etc.
Who did it NOT APPEAL to?
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Aristocrats  republicanism threatened their way of life,
social hierarchy
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Congress declared independence July 2, 1776.
Jefferson headed the committee to write it
Arguments based on John Locke's contract theory of
government:
 All people have natural rights ("Life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness")
 When a gov. abuses rights, people have a right to "alter or abolish"
it
 King George has acted tyrannically. Long list of wrongs done by
King to colonists.
 The colonies are independent.
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Declaration gave a clear position for rebellious
colonists, forcing others to choose rebellion or
declare as Loyalists.
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Public celebrations and demonstrations rang out
through the colonies among the patriots
The Women’s reaction
Abigail Adams took care of her children and the business
of the farm
 Supported independence, championed women’s rights
 “…Remember the ladies, and be more generous and
favorable to the them than your ancestors”.
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Loyal Subjects to the King
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Colonial Americans opposed
to independence

Also known as Tories
affiliated with the political
party of Lord North
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Attacks made on loyalists in
the colonies