Rebellion to revolution, 1775-76 Flashcards
What happened after the central assembly dissolved?
Colonial assembly after assembly had to be dissolved by their governors but continued to meet in defiance of British law.
When did the continental congress meet for the first time, and what did they do?
September 1774
it was a convention of delegates from the 13 colonies, which became the de facto govt of the United States
What views did they [continental congress] support?
congress supported the views of the radicals
What did Britain declare?
Britain declared Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion on 9 February 1775.
What was rejected by the house of lords?
Earl of Chatham proposed the removal of all duties from the Americas, including the Sugar Act and
recognising the power of the Continental Congress as an American parliament. This proposal was rejected by the House of Lords by 2 to 1 and Britain began to prepare for war
What happened at Lexington and Concord?
- General Gage knew where the rebel weapons were stockpiled and had unsuccessfully attempted to seize munitions from Salem in Feb 1775
- Gage recived a letter from American Secretary (Lord Dartmouth)
- 18 April 1775: Gage attempted a secret mission to Concord to seize/destroy a military store
- British troops were met by 75 volunteers at Lexington and the first shots of the war rang out
- they pushed out onto Concord and destroyed th stores, but steadily fired on all the way back to Boston and saved from a total disaster by the arrival of relief soldiers
How many troops were available?
General Gage had only 4,000 troops available to them and what the first military actions of
the American War of Independence
What were the messages from London urging?
Messages from London could, and did, urge action, but the outcome of these actions proved disastrous for the British
When were the Lexington and Concord events?
February 1775
18 April 1775
How many casualties were at lexington?
Total British casualties were 273, and 73 were killed
How many besieged boston?
Boston was besieged and surrounded by 20,000 colonial militia
What happened at Bunker Hill?
- 26 May 1775: Reinforcements arrived in Boston –> British generals Howe, Clinton and Burgoyne + few thousand more troops
- -> their arrival sparked the bloodiest engagement of the whole war
- 17 June: British attempted full frontal assault against the rebels - Battle of Bunker Hill
- 1000+/2500 British became casualties
- Americans lost fewer than half of that ^ number
- British were beseiged by the new colonial army under Washington
- March 1776: British forced to evacuate Boston for Nova Scotia (Canadian province)
- as a result of the news of Bunker Hill, George III issued a Proclamation on 23 Aug 1775 - declaring all colonies to be in a state of open rebellion
On 26 may 1775 what happened?
Burgoyne on 26 May 1775 with a few thousand more troops, and their arrival sparked the bloodiest engagement of the whole war.
At the battle of Bunker Hill on 17 june,how many casualties were there?
More than 1,000 of the 2,500 British engaged in the battle became casualties.
On 23 August 1775 what happened?
George IIl issued a Proclamation n 23 August 1775 declaring all colonies to
be in a state of open rebellion.
