The Road to Revolution

After the First Continental Congress had met, many colonists in Eastern New England began military operations by setting up civilian soldiers (otherwise known as minutemen) to gather firearms and gunpowder. In 1775, General Thomas Gage of Great Britain sent troops to seize illegal weapons from the colonists.

The first battle between the British and the colonists was the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19th, 1775. At Lexington, 70 minutemen prepared to fight the British. The British told the minutemen to lay down their weapon and they did not so the British attacked. As a result, 8 minutemen were killed and 10 were wounded. The British proceeded on to Concord. This was a mistake, however, for between 3,000 and 4,000 minutemen were waiting for them and it resulted in bloodshed. The remaining British soldiers went back to Boston and found themselves under colonist's siege.

The Second Continental Congress was held in Philadelphia in May of 1775. The delegates were split between calling for independence versus reconciliation (the restoration of a former state of harmony or friendship) with the British. Finally they decided to treat the colonial militia as the army, while appointing George Washington as the commander.

General Thomas Gage decide to sent military men to Breed's Hill to attack the colonists. On June 17th, 1775, there was a sudden attack from both sides resulting 450 colonists and over 1000 British casualties. This was the Battle of Bunker Hill, which proved to be the deadliest battle of the war. Since many delegates still wished for peace, the Congress sent the King an Olive Branch Petition. King George denied the petition, instead he issued a proclamation to set up a naval blockage for the American Coast.

By Alice and Sneha