Download

Road to Independence

By stu.barkleyj@mishawaka.k12.in.us

  • The Second Continental Congress Agree to Meet Again

    The Second Continental Congress Agree to Meet Again
    • The Continental Congress agrees to meet again if the British did not address their complaints.

  • Fighting Begins

    Fighting Begins
    • In the winter of 1774 a British officer in Boston noted in his diary that the people are making every preparation for resistance.

  • First Continental Congress Meets

    First Continental Congress Meets
    • All colonies but Georgia have representatives
    • Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
    • Voted to Boycott all British Trade
    • Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britain.

  • Great Britain Sends Troops

    Great Britain Sends Troops
    • King George told Parliament that the New England colonies were in a "state of rebellion"
    • Several thousands of British troops were in and around Boston.
    • British General Thomas Gage had orders to seize the weapons from the Massachusetts militia and arrest the leaders.
    • Militia stored arms and ammunition at Concord.

  • The War Begins To Heat Up

    The War Begins To Heat Up
    • Since the U.S found out that the British planned to attack New York, they decided to strike first. Their attempt failed.
    • Washington realized that his militia was untrained, so he decided to train them to become real soldiers.
    • Washington obtained much higher firepower and pointed cannons at the British while they slept.
    • This scared the British, causing them to sail away to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

  • Choosing Sides

    Choosing Sides
    • While news spread about these battles, the colonists each faced a major decision. This decision was whether they were to join the rebels or remain loyal to Great Britain.
    • "The American Revolution was not just a war between America and Britain. It was also a civil war—Patriots against Loyalists."

  • The British on the Move

    The British on the Move
    • Paul Revere and William Dawes ride to Lexington and spread the word that the British are coming.
    • Samuel Adams was ready to fight.

  • Lexington & Concord

    Lexington & Concord
    • When the redcoats arrived in Lexington they were met by 70 minutemen.
    • 8 minutemen were dead by the end of the battle.
    • The British make there way to Concord and suffer heavy losses.
    • The first shot in the battle of Lexington was known as the shot heard 'round the world. This shot began the battle for independence.

  • Second Continental Congress Meets Again

    Second Continental Congress Meets Again
    • John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington all meet.

  • The Battle of Bunker Hill

    The Battle of Bunker Hill
    • After Lexington & Concord, more volunteers joined the colonial militias bringing the militia around Boston to a total of about 20,000 people.
    • The redcoats attack Boston, but they fail and are forced to retreat.
    • The redcoats then charged twice more and beat out the Americans, this was known as the battle of Bunker Hill.
    • The British learned that fighting the Americans would not be easy after losing over 1,000 troops.

  • Moving Toward Independence

    Moving Toward Independence
    • Thomas Paine publishes a pamphlet called Common Sense which called for a complete break with British rule.

  • Declaring Independence

    Declaring Independence
    • Richard Henry Lee declares that the colonies should be an independent nation free from British rule.

  • Writing the Declaration

    Writing the Declaration
    • Thomas Jefferson agrees to write the declaration.
    • The Congress votes on Lee's resolution for independence.
    • The delegates discuss Jefferson's draft of the declaration.

  • The Declaration of Independence

    The Declaration of Independence
    • The Declaration of Independence is signed.