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The Battle of Lexington
US - 77 soldiers
UK - 400
Darmouths letters instructed Gage to arrest the leaders of the Provisional Congress and authorised him to use force to disarnm the population. Sent 700 men from Boston under Colonel Smith to seize rebel powder and guns stored at Concord (26km). Paul Revere ( Members of the Boston committee safety ) informed the Massachusetts militia. -
The continental army is formed by the Second Continental Congress
Implemented a quota on each colony sufficient to raise 20k men. Congress voted to issue 2 million paper money to finance the force in Spanish dollars. Appointed George Washington to command the continental army.
6 july Congress adopted a Declaration of the Causes and Necessities of Taking up Arms. Olive Branch Petition 8 july drawn up by Dickinson. The petition was made to convince the conservatives of COngress and Americans generally that declaring independence was the last resort. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Gage a force of 6.5k men. On 12 june he acted on instruction of Dartmouth, he issued a proclamation declaring massachusetts in a state of rebellion and establishing martial law. Howe launched a frontal attack on the rebells located at the neighbouring Breeds Hill by mistake. He lost had 1k casualties, The americanas lost Half that number. ( this was the bloodiest engagment of the entire war ) -
The Prohibitory Act
declered the rebellious colonies to be outside of the protection of the Crown. It forbade commerce with the colobies and made their ships forfeit to the crown. -
The Invasion of Canada
Congress order Generla Philip Schuyler to seize Montreal. They hoped that the French would support them in overthrowing the small British garrison. 700 exhausted men arrived opposite to QUebec at the end of the montreal. since the enlistments expired at the end of the year, an attack on quebec had to be urgent. General Guy Carleton ( British ) haad 1.8k french canadian militia. Montgomery was killed and Arnold wounded. Over 400 Americans surrendered. -
The evacuation of Boston
Washington overcame some of his difficulities with the help of Henry Knox, artillery form Ticonderoga was transported to boston. 17k rebels vs 1k loyalists and Howe--> evacuated to Nova Scotia ( Main naval base )