First Continental Congress.
Some Americans thought the Boston Tea Party was wrong. Some businessmen
even offered to pay for the damages. King George wanted to punish the
Americans. The British Parliament passed a new set of laws called the
Intolerable Acts.
The Intolerable Acts closed the Boston Harbor until the tea was paid for in full.
They said the Americans could not hold town meetings. The Americans were
forced to house the British soldiers. Any British subjects who committed a crime
in America would be tried in England.
This led to many problems. With the port closed no food could be shipped to
Boston. Boston asked the colonies for help. Many colonies sent food overland.
All colonies except Georgia sent men to Philadelphia to talk about what to do
about the Intolerable Acts. This group was called the First Continental Congress.
They met in September 1774 in Carpenters' Hall in Philadelphia. The Congress
decided they must force the British to repeal the acts. They also decided to cut
off all trade between England and the colonies until the acts changed.
War Begins
April 19, 1775
As tensions between the colonists and the British grew, a split developed and
widened between those taking sides in America between the loyalists (colonists
remaining loyal to the king) and the patriots (those opposing British laws). Near
midnight, April 18, 1775 General Thomas Gage (British commander-in-chief) sent
his soldiers toward Lexington. He wanted to seize patriot arms and ammunition
stored in Concord. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode ahead to warn the local
minutemen, or patriot volunteers. At dawn 70 minutemen met the English
soldiers on the village green at Lexington. The British again engaged in fighting
at the bridge north of Concord before retreating to Boston.
Opening Clashes at Lexington Green and Concord Bridge
The Revolutionary War's opening clashes at Lexington Green and Concord
Bridge took place when British regulars in Boston were dispatched to Concord to
capture rebel munitions stored there.
Second Continental Congress
Philadelphia May, 1775
Following the Fighting at Lexington and Concord a meeting was called in
Philadelphia on May 10, 1775 to assemble delegates to the Second Continental
Congress. Those present included Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington. Some wanted to
declare America independent immediately; some wanted to avoid war at all
costs. The Response of Congress was twofold. While giving peace a final try,
Congress established a Continental army and appointed George Washington as
commander-in-chief. In an effort to bring peace, John Dickinson and others in
Congress drew up a document referred to as the "The Branch Petition" which
King George refused to read.
Battle for Bunker Hill
June 17, 1775
In Massachusetts, the patriot army was growing. Thousands of rebels poured
into New England ready to drive the British out of the colonies, and more
specifically, out of Boston.
The rebel army took position on Breed's Hill near Boston on June 16, 1775. They
also intended to take neighboring Bunker Hill. The British, however, attacked on
June 17 before these plans were completed. Although the resulting battle was for
Bunker Hill, the fighting took place on Breed's Hill.
The British attacked the hilltop on three separate charges, with one coming as
close as forty yards before the patriots opened fire. The rebels did not flee the hill
until they had run out of bullets. Though the British won, about 1,000 redcoats
were kill July 3, 1775
On June 15, 1775, General George Washington was voted commander-in-chief
of the Continental army by the American Congress. However, he did not arrive in
Massachusetts to assume his duties until July 3, 1775.
The army which Washington met at Cambridge was largely an untrained and
undisciplined lot. Consisting mostly of local farmers, a few artisans, and skilled
workers, they basically knew little about military discipline and the expectations of
a real military leader like Washington. The soldiers lived in tents and other
makeshift shelters. Supplies came in sporadically, but there never seemed to be
enough guns, ammunition, cloth, food, or back pay.
British Evacuation of Boston
March 26, 1776
In the spring of 1776, the colonists had something to cheer about. The British
cannon they had captured and taken from Ft. Ticonderoga had been hauled
overland during the winter by Colonel Henry Knox and his men. The cannon had
reached the rebel army outside Boston in March, and in one night, Washington
set up the fortification of Dorchester Heights overlooking the city with the heavy
guns aimed at the British fleet anchored below. On March 26, 1776, British fleet
left Boston.
Fighting in the South
February - June 1776
Around the same time, the patriots enjoyed success against the British in North
and South Carolina.
General William Howe, a British officer, hoped to send soldiers by ship to the
south to North Carolina. About 2,000 loyalists were to march to the seaport of
Wilmington to join the British regiments there.
Pattriots discovered the plan and on February 27, 1776 met the loyalists at
Moore's Creek Bridge. The patriots took 850 prisoners, weapons, and wagons
and a good amount of gold.
No loyalist troops remained to meet the British who landed at North Carolina in
May. The enemy turned around and sailed to Charleston, South Carolina instead.
The attack began in June, but the patriots were ready and began shelling the
British fleet from Ft. Moultrie. The damaged ships left and sailed back to New
York.
Timetable to Independence
June 7 - August 2, 1776
With the passage of time and the events of the war. the concept of independence
gradually took root and became a growing popular movement. Many of those in
the Congress saw the fulfillment of a dream of liberty in fighting for
independence. Below is a list of chronological events and how they relate to the
moves for independence that took place in the hot summer of 1776.
The Road to Independence, 1776
June 7
In Congress, Richard Henry Lee introduces a resolution, "That these United
Colonies are, and of Right ought to be, free and independent states."
June 11
A committee is selected to write a formal declaration of the reasons for
independence. Members include Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, John
Adams, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston.
July 1
Debate on Lee's resolution begins in Congress.
July 2
Twelve delegations vote to adopt Lee's resolution. New York delegation
abstains.
July 3
The Declaration of Independence is read in Congress and debate begins on
the document. Wording of the document is of special concern.
July 4
The Declaration of Independence is adopted by twelve of the thirteen
delegations. Again, New York abstains. On this date, only John Hancock signs
the Declaration.
July 8
In Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell rings signaling adoption by Congress of the
Declaration.
July 15
Belatedly, New York delegation votes to adopt the Declaration of
Independence.
August 2
In a formal signing ceremony, fifty members of the Second Continental
Congress sign the Declaration of Independence.