Q: What are the Intolerable Acts?
A:
The intolerable acts were laws and taxes made by the British Parliament to
punish the colonies for not following the laws and paying previous taxes. These
acts closed the Boston ports until the responsible colonists were brought to
justice and England was repaid for the money they lost in tea during the Boston
Tea Party, they also banned any and all town meetings in Massachusetts, an
appointed governor by the King and Parliament was set in place to run the
Massachusetts colony giving him more power than the previous governors, and more.
These acts were not accepted nor tolerated by Massachusetts. Other colonies supported Massachusetts
and sent them money and food, while their ports were closed. These acts are
what lead to the First Continental Congress.
Q: What is the First Continental
Congress and what happened during their first meeting?
A:
Delegates from all the colonies, with the exception of Georgia, met in
Philadelphia and decided to stop all commerce with England. Although Georgia
was not present at the meeting, they agreed with al the decision made. They
expected that this treat would have Britain overturn the Intolerable Acts. At
this meeting, they also asked all colonies to begin training troops, just in
case things got worse with England. Colonists were determined to stand up for
their rights.
Q: What happened during the
Midnight Ride?
A:
British spies told British General Gage that the militia of Massachusetts was storing
weapons and ammunition in Concord. General Gage was also informed that Sam Adams
and John Hancock were in Lexington, not too far from Concord. General Gage
immediately sent his troops to destroy the ammunition and ordered that Hancock
and Adams be taken prisoners.
Paul
Revere and William Dawes were part of a secret organization called the Sons of
Liberty. The found out what General Gage was up to and they immediately devised
a plan to inform the colonists of the imminent British attack. Revere had developed a communication
system that was used to warn colonists. This involved him lighting one lantern
in the Old North Church’s steeple to signify that British troops were taking a
and route to Boston, and two lanterns to mean that they were going by water.
Revere
and Dawes travelled by land and water towards Concord. On their way, they met with
Dr. Samuel Prescott. Revere and Dawes were unfortunately detained by British
troops, but Dr. Prescott who knew how important it was to deliver the message,
continued until he arrived at Concord to alert the colonial militia and Minutemen
(men ready to fight for the colonies in a minute’s notice) that the British
were coming.
Q: What happened at Lexington
and Concord?
A:
On April 9, 1775, approximately 700 British soldiers arrived at Lexington and
were ready to fight the 70 militia men that were waiting for them. The British
commander ordered the militia men to drop their weapons, but they refused. It
is said that no one knows who fired first, but a shot was fired and it was
“heard around the world.” Within minutes the militia were dead and the British
troops kept moving forward towards Concord. After destroying the weapons and
ammunition, British soldiers found themselves confronted by 4,000 Minutemen,
that shot and forced the British soldiers, also known as Redcoats, to retreat.
Lexington and Concord are considered the first two battled of the American
Revolution. This was seen as a great win for America and it gave many hope that
if a war was to follow, they might have a chance at winning.
Q: When was the Second
Continental Congress and what was discussed at this meeting?
A:
The Second Continental Congress was a meeting held in Philadelphia. This
meeting took place soon after the Battles of Concord and Lexington. At this
meeting they discussed forming an actual army and they voted George Washington
to be the leader, commanding officer, of the army.
Q: What happened during the
Battle of Bunker Hill?
A:
In June of 1775, militiamen were position at Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill, where
they formed a fortification. The British saw this as a threat and they decided
to attack. British soldiers set fire to Charlestown, a nearby town, and started
marching towards Breeds Hill. Once the British soldiers got closer, the militia
attacked them by firing their guns. The British soldiers fell back, but gained
control and kept moving forward. They eventually took control and won the
Battle of Bunker Hill, but at the unfortunate expense of 1,000 dead British
Soldiers, compared to only 400 militiamen casualties.
Q: What is the Olive Branch
Petition?
A:
The Olive Branch Petition was the colonists’ last attempt to make peace with
the King and Parliament. They asked the King to restore harmony between England
and the colonies. The King denied their petition and ordered for the war to
continue. At this point, the king wanted to punish the colonies for
disobedience.
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