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Home , Minutemen, Samuel Prescott

A Call to Arms

American Diary Many colonists were frustrated by Reading Guide British efforts to exert authority over Content Vocabulary the colonies. At an inn, fohn Adams (p. 133) Loyalist (p. 137) overheard a Massachusetts farmer say­ (p. 134) Patriot (p. 137) ing: nlf Parliament can take away Mr. Academic Vocabulary approach (p. l35) volunteer (p. 136) Hancock's wharf . .. they can take away Key People and Events your barn and my house." Another (p. 133) replied, nwezz, it is high time for us to (p. 133) (p. 133) rebel. We must rebel ... and we had (p. 133) better rebel now." (p. 133) (p. 135) -quoted in the book John Adams Reading Strategy Taking Notes As you read, list three key actions of the Continental Con- gress. Use a diagram like the one below. The Continental Congress PRIMARY SOURCE "The distinctions between Virginians, Pennsylvanians, 1Mtt1i1G!¥1 Colonial leaders met in Philadelphia New Yorkers, and New Englanders, are no more. I am to discuss their opposition to British policy. not a Virginian, but an American:' History and You Have you ever worked with a -, at the Continental Congress group to accomplish a shared goal? Read to learn about the common goal that united the Continental Decisions of the Congress Congress. The delegates drafted a statement of griev­ ances calling for the repeal of 13 acts of Par­ liament. They believed these laws violated I n September 1774, 55 delegates from all the the "laws of nature, the principles of the Eng­ colonies except Georgia arrived in Phila­ lish constitution, and the several charters" of delphia. They had come to establish a politi­ the colonies. The delegates voted to boycott cal body to represent American interests and British trade. No British goods could be challenge British control. They called the new brought in or used in the colonies. No colo­ organization the Continental Congress. nial goods could be sold to Britain. The Congress also decided to endorse the Delegates to the Congress Suffolk Resolves, so named because they Political leaders from across the colonies were prepared by the people of Suffolk attended the Congress. Massachusetts sent County, Massachusetts. These resolutions fiery and his cousin John called on the people of the county to arm Adams, a lawyer. New York sent John Jay, themselves against the British. The people another lawyer. From Virginia came Richard responded by forming -groups of Henry Lee and Patrick Henry, two out­ citizen soldiers. spoken defenders of colonial rights, as well as George Washington. Patrick Henry summed Reading Check Explaining What was the pur­ up the meaning of the gathering: pose of the Continental Congress?

If You Were 1'here Militias In the Colonies Citizen Soldiers Even before the , the American colonists had a long tradition of serving in the military. If you were a member of a militia, you were an important part of the defense of your town. You Purchases authorized by Salem , October 1774 trained and drilled with the other soldiers. 20 tons grape- and round sh ot, fro m 3 to 24 lb.@ £15 £300 You practiced musket and cannon drills. _ _ __:. ______-+------£- --; You were required to provide your own 10 tons bomb shells @£20 200 weapons-usually a musket-and ammuni- _s_t_on_s_le_a_d_b_al_ls_@_£3_3____ ----': ~.,... f'!'..----t------£_1_65--1 tion. As the break between Great Britain 1,000 barrels of powder @£8 £8,000 and the American colonies grew, town 5,000 arms and bayonets @£ 2 £10,000 governments also supplied their militias. And 75,000 flints £1 00 The chart to the left shows arms purchased -,...... -----:"'!'>~ by the town of Salem, Massachusetts.

Speculating What advantages would local militias have against British soldiers? The First Battles Britain Sends Troops The British also prepared for conflict. King l ~ rmtlfi@i America's fight for independence George announced to Parliament that the began when British troops clashed with minutemen New England Colonies were "in a state of at Lexington and Concord. rebellion" and said that "blows must decide" History and You Why would the element of sur­ who would control America. By April 1775, prise be a valuable weapon during a war? Read to several thousand British soldiers were in and learn how the minutemen used the element of sur­ around Boston, with many more on the way. prise to their advantage. Their general, , had instructions to take away the weapons of the Massachu­ C olonists expected that if fighting against setts militia and arrest the leaders. the British broke out, it would begin in New Gage learned that the militia was storing England. Militia companies in Massachusetts arms and ammunition at Concord, a town held frequent training sessions, made bullets, about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Boston. and stockpiled and muskets. Some com­ He ordered 700 troops under Lieutenant panies, known as minutemen, boasted they Colonel Francis Smith to march "to Concord, would be ready to fight on a minute's notice. where you will seize and destroy all the artil­ In the winter of 1774-1775, a British officer lery and ammunition you can find." stationed in Boston noted in his diary: Alerting the Colonists PRIMARY SouRCE On the night of April 18, 1775, Dr. Joseph "The people are evidently making every preparation Warren walked the streets of Boston looking for resistance. They are taking every means to provide for any unusual activity by the British . themselves with Arms:· He saw a regiment form ranks in Boston -from Diary of Frederick Mackenzie Common and begin to march out of the city.

Colonial troops Colonial messengers British troops

Revere captured; Dawes turns back; Dr. continues ride. uniform coat

"Stand your ground. 2 kilometers Don't fire unless fired 2 miles upon, but if they Albers Equal-Area projection mean to have a war, let it begin here.'' - Captain to the Lexington Militia Warren rushed to alert Paul Revere and A shot was fired, and then both sides let , members of the Sons of Lib­ loose an exchange of bullets. When the fight­ erty. Revere and Dawes rode to Lexington, a ing ended, eight minutemen lay dead. The town east of Concord, to warn Samuel Adams British troops continued their march to Con­ and that the British were com­ cord. When they arrived, they found that ing. Revere galloped across the moonlit coun­ most of the militia's gunpowder had already tryside, shouting, "The regulars are out!" to been removed. They destroyed the remaining people along the way. Upon hearing the supplies. At Concord's North Bridge, waiting news, Adams exclaimed, "What a glorious minutemen turned back the British. morning this is!" Adams was ready to fight Messengers on horseback had spread word for independence. of the British movements. All along the road from Concord to Boston, farmers, black­ Lexington and Concord smiths, and clerks hid behind trees and stone At dawn the redcoats approached, or fences. As the British marched down the moved closer to, Lexington. There they dis­ road, the militia fired. By the time the red­ covered about 70 minutemen who had been coats reached Boston, at least 174 were alerted by Revere and Dawes. Led by Captain wounded and 73 were dead. John Parker, the minutemen stood on the Looking back, the poet Ralph Waldo Emer­ town common with muskets in hand. A min­ son wrote in "The " that the uteman reported: Americans at Lexington and Concord had PRIMARY SouRCE fired the "shot heard 'round the world." The "There suddenly appeared a number of the king's battle for independence had begun. troops ... the foremost of which cried, 'Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye rebels!"' Reading Check Explaining How were the colo­ -from The Military Journals of Two Private Soldiers nists preparing for war with Britain?

The North Bridge at Con­ cord was the site of the first American victory in the Revolutionary War. ~

~ On the night of April 18, British troops secretly set out from Boston to Concord. Messengers, including Paul Revere Critical Thinking (above), were sent to spread the alarm. Analyzing What happened after British forces reached lexington? When the British reached lexington, Patriot minutemen were waiting. ~~.C•P' ~ See StudentWorks™ Plus or · r

The Spirit of Independence Chapter 5 135 Patrick Henry : Samuel Adams • Lawyer and Revolutionary • Patriot Leader in Boston • Henry was one of the first members • Adams argued that Massachusetts of the Virginia House of Burgesses to • should be independent from Britain argue for independence from Britain. • long before anyone else did. After In a debate over : the were passed, he whether the state • wrote that it was "irreconcilable should form a • to ... and • militia, he • reason, that a British house of vowed, "Give me • commons, should have a right • liberty or give • . .. to give and grant the me death!" • property of the Colonists." • •

• 1. Synthesizing What did Patrick Henry and Samuel • Adams have in common? • 2. Analyzing What do you think Patrick Henry meant when he said, "Give me liberty or give me death!"?

More Military Action Later during the war, Arnold sold military information to the British. When he conspired l l1mt'1Pl¥1 As colonial militias formed and the to surrender the key fort of West Point to the fighting continued, American loyalties were split. British, his treason was discovered. Arnold History and You Have you ever taken sides in a fled to British-controlled New York City. He dispute between two friends? Read to learn how the was given command of British troops and led issue of independence divided Americans. raids against the Americans in Virginia and Connecticut. S hortly after Lexington and Concord, Bene­ dict Arnold, a captain in the Connecticut Building Forces militia, was authorized to raise a force of 400 After Lexington and Concord, the commit­ men to seize on Lake Cham­ tees of correspondence sent out calls for plain. Ticonderoga was not only strategically volunteers, or helpers, to join the militias. Soon located but also rich in military supplies. the colonial militia assembled around Boston Arnold learned that was also was about 20,000 strong. For several weeks, mounting an expedition in Vermont to attack the American and British waited ner­ the fort. Arnold joined his militia with Allen's vously to see who would make the next move. force, known as the Green Mountain Boys. Together they caught the British by surprise. Fort Ticonderoga surrendered on May 10, Student Web Activity Visit glencoe.com and complete the 1775. Chapter 5 Web Activity about .

136 Chapter 5 The Spirit of Independence The Choosing Sides On June 16, 1775, about 1,200 militiamen As American colonists heard about these under the command of Colonel William battles, they faced a major decision. Should Prescott set up fortifications at Bunker Hill they join the rebels or remain loyal to Great and nearby Breed's Hill, across the harbor Britain? Those who chose to stay with Britain, from Boston. the Loyalists, did not consider unfair taxes The British decided to drive the Americans and regulations good reasons for rebellion. from their strategic locations overlooking the Some Loyalists lived in relative isolation and city. The next day the redcoats assembled at had not been part of the wave of discontent the bottom of Breed's Hill. Bayonets drawn, that turned many Americans against Britain. they charged up the hill. With his forces low Still others expected Britain to win the war on ammunition, Colonel Prescott reportedly and wanted to gain favor with the British. shouted the order, "Don't fire until you see The Patriots, on the other hand, were colo­ the whites of their eyes." The Americans nists who supported the war for indepen­ opened fire, forcing the British to retreat. The dence. They believed that British rule had redcoats charged two more times, receiving become unbearable. The Patriots were deter­ furious fire. In the end the Americans ran out mined to fight the British until American of gunpowder and had to withdraw. independence was won. The British won the Battle of Bunker Hill The American Revolution was not just a but suffered heavy losses-more than 1,000 war between the Americans and the British. It dead and wounded. As one British officer was also a civil war among colonists-Patriots wrote in his diary, "A dear bought victory, against Loyalists. another such would have ruined us." The Brit­ ish had learned that defeating the Americans Reading Check Analyzing What did the British on the battlefield would not be quick or easy. learn from the Battle of Bunker Hill?

Study CentralrM To review this section, go to glencoe.co!T1.

Vocabulary Critical Thinking 6. Creative Writing Write a one­ 1. Define each of the following 4. Interpreting Reread Patrick act play in which ordinary peo­ terms and use them in a para­ Henry's quote about the Conti­ ple in a small town react to the graph: nental Congress. What change news of the Battle of Lexington. was occurring in the way the Remember that not all colonists colonists saw themselves? wanted independence from Britain. Main Ideas 5. Comparing and Contrasting Use a diagram like the one 2. Explaining How did endorse­ below to show the similarities ment of the Suffolk Resolves by and differences between Patriots What brought about the clash the Continental Congress push and Loyalists. between American colonists and the colonies closer to war? British soldiers at Lexington and 3. Describing What tactics did the Concord? colonists use against the British troops on their march back from Concord to Boston?

The Spirit of Independence Chapter 5 137