US History

U.S. History Study Guide

Basic English liberties. The delegates voted for an organized boycott of British imports and sent a petition to King George III, which said Parliament had the power to regulate commerce, but objected to its unreasonable taxation and denial of fair trials to colonists. Preparing for possible British retaliation, the delegates called upon all colonies to raise and train local militias. By 1775, the colonists had established regional congresses to enforce the decrees of the Continental Congress. The importance of the first Continental Congress can be summed up by a quote from John Adams, who said "the thirteen clocks began to strike as one." No longer were there thirteen different movements but now thirteen areas unified by one plan. 5.18 The First Battles Lexington and Concord A well-known, revolutionary, Paul Revere would get his famed notoriety for his famous "Midnight Ride", warning the colonists: "The British are Coming!" after hearing of British plans to march on Concord. The battles of Lexington and Concord took place on April 19, 1775 and were the first battles of the American Revolution. The British troops in Boston, who were stationed there after the Boston Tea Party, sent men to take colonial supplies from the armory at Concord. The British chose to march to Concord because the colonists had stockpiled weapons there. As the British were marching to Concord and as they passed through Lexington, they met with colonial militia or minute men (called that because they would be ready to fight at a minute's notice). No one is sure who fired first, but it was the "Shot Heard 'Round the World." Both sides opened fire, and the colonists were forced to withdraw, but they had slowed the British advance. By the time the British got to Concord, the colonists were waiting for them. The British were forced to retreat, harassed by militiamen along the way. In the skirmish, the British lost 269 men and were driven back into Boston. The Battle of Lexington and Concord convinced many colonists to take up arms against the mighty British army. Bunker Hill In June of 1775, the British attacked a colonial stronghold outside Boston in the Battle of Bunker Hill. The Battle of Bunker Hill is actually misnamed. The battle really took place on Breed's Hill. The colonists repelled the first two attacks by the British, but were forced to retreat from the third attack when they ran out of ammunition. Although the British successfully dislodged the colonials from the hillside stronghold they lost 1,154 men, in contrast to the 311 colonial casualties. Even though the colonists were defeated, it proved that the British could suffer great losses and gave encouragement to the growing cause of independence. 5.19 The Second Continental Congress In May 1775 the Second Continental Congress met at what is now known as Independence Hall in Philadelphia. There were several new delegates, including: John Hancock of Massachusetts, Thomas Jefferson of Virginia, and Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania. New England delegates urged

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