War Breaks Out First Continental Congress 1774 Met

War Breaks Out

First Continental Congress 1774 • Met in Philadelphia from Sept 5 -Oct 26 to redress colonial grievances • 55 men from every colony but Georgia • Sam Adams, John Adams, Patrick Henry, George Washington • Drew up a Declaration of Rights

The Association • Called for the complete boycott of British goods: non -exportation, non-importation, non-consumption • NOT YET CALLING FOR INDEPENDENCE • Agreed to meet again in May 1775 if concerns were not addressed • Parliament rejected their concerns • Men began to prep for battle

Lexington and Concord • April 1775 British soldiers sent to Lexington and Concord to seize colonial stores of gun power and to capture “rebel” leaders Sam Adams and John Hancock • British fired shots on colonial “Minute Men”- 8 Americans killed • Americans forced the British to retreat before they reached Concord • 300 injured and at least 70 soldiers killed • WAR BREAKS OUT

Imperial Strengths • Population odds 3: 1 • Professional Army • Treasury to hire soldiers • 30, 000 German Hessians • 50, 000 American loyalists

Imperial Weaknesses • British troops had to watch Ireland • France was looking to get back a Great Britain • Whigs supported Americans in Britain • Difficulties for British armies in America: second rate generals, brutally treated soldiers, poor food supply • 3, 000 miles from home: military orders could arrive months later • No colonial capital to be seized

American Advantages and Disadvantages • Outstanding leadership: George Washington, Ben Franklin (foreign diplomat), and Marquis de Lafayette • Poorly organized for war (politically) • Poorly trained • Lacked supplies • Economic difficulties • Printed colonial paper money • Some states issued their own money • Caused damaging inflation

African Americans in the War • Colonial Side: 5, 000 blacks fought at Trenton, Brandywine, and Saratoga- some become military heroes • British Side: Nov 1775 Lord Dunmore (Royal VA gov) issued a proclamation promising freedom to any enslaved black in VA who joined the British army • 300 joined in the first month • Evacuated 14, 000 black loyalists to Nova Scotia after the war

Meeting of the Second Continental Congress • May 10, 1775 • All 13 colonies were represented • Hoped that fighting would cause the King and Parliament to redress grievances • Adopted measures to create an Army and Navy • George Washington is selected to head the army • Lacks experience but he is a strong leader with a strong character- soldiers trusted him

Bunker Hill • May 1775 Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold surprised and captured Ticonderoga and Crown Point in New York State • Gained gun powder and artillery • June 1775 the American army beat down British soldiers at Bunker Hill

The Olive Branch Petition • July 1775 Continental Congress adopted this petition that professed American loyalty and begged the King to prevent further hostilities • King George refused after the massacre at Bunker Hill • Aug 1775 King George formally proclaimed the colonies “in rebellion” which was a crime of treason punished by hanging • Sept 1775 King hired thousands of German Hessians to crush rebellion

Abortive Conquest of Canada • Oct 1775 British burned Falmouth, Maine • Rebels invaded Canada in an effort to add a 14 th colony and deprive British of a valuable base to strike colonists • American General Montgomery captured Montreal • He was joined in Quebec by Am. Gen. Arnold • This assault on Quebec was put down • Montgomery was killed and Arnold was injured • Troops retreated • Jan 1776 British set fire to Norfolk, VA