Chapter 8 14th
Congress Drafts George Washington
20,000 fired up militiamen swarmed the Boston area following the first shots at Lexington and Concord. The British redcoats were outnumbered.
Meanwhile, the Second Continental Congress met in May 1775 in Philadelphia to address the worsening situation. As with the first Congress, calmer minds prevailed and there was no vote (yet) for independence. The plan was to stay with the king (with some changes). Leaving no stone unturned, their actions took the direction of both pursuing peace and preparing for war. Their actions were to a second list of grievances to the king. Hopes were that he'd have a change of heart and change his ways.
Took measures to raise money for an army and navy.
Appointed George Washington as general of the continental army.
Washington had never been promoted higher than a colonel, but he looked the part and would instill confidence and boost morale.
Washington was of the highest character: patient, courageous, self disciplined, fair, and religious.
He accepted no pay but kept an expense account instead of over $100,000.
Bunker Hill and [url=http://www.cheapjerseysonly.us.com/]wholesale jerseys[/url] Hessian Hirelings
The war's early going was contradictory. On one hand, the colonists were still pledging loyalty to the king. On the other hand, they were taking up arms against the crown.
The war's pace quickly stepped up.
In May 1775 Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold led the Green Mountain Boys of Vermont in surprise victories over the redcoats at Ft. Ticonderoga and Crown Point.
The importance of this raid lay in the fact that the colonists captured much needed cannons and gunpowder.
In June 1775 the Americans too Bunker Hill in Boston. The British launched a foolish frontal assault and eventually won a Pyrrhic victory, but the American troops fought well and proved to themselves that they could go toe to toe with British regulars.
Still, the Continental Congress sought peace and reconciliation with the king. They sent the "Olive Branch Petition" to London. It pledged loyalty and asked for peace. After Bunker Hill, King George III had decided peace was out.
George III took action by (a) formerly declaring the colonies in rebellion and (b) hiring thousands of German soldiers (called "Hessians" by the Americans) to fight the war.
The Abortive Conquest of Canada
The redcoats burnt Falmouth (Portland), Maine (Oct. 1775).
Meanwhile, the Americans decided to attack Canada. This proved to be a mistake because Americans misjudged the French Canadians, thinking the French hated the British and would [url=http://www.wholesalejerseysal.com/]wholesale nfl jerseys[/url] revolt too.
The Americans had argued they were only defending their land. In Canada, they were trying to win colony 14.
The Americans lost.
Gen. Richard Montgomery marched north along the Lake Champlain route toward Quebec, and was met by Benedict Arnold and men, weary from the grueling trip. In the battle (Dec. 1775), Montgomery would be killed, Arnold wounded, and their men scattered.
Arnold and his men had to retreat up the St. Lawrence River. The French Canadians were in no mood to welcome the Americans.
A republic is a government where the people elect representatives to rule for them. Power rests with the people (and their votes).
The ancient Greeks and even the British had a form of a republic yet had differences (Greek cities were small and Britain had a half republic with the king). The American republic would [url=http://www.wholesalejerseyssupply.us.com/]cheap nfl jerseys[/url] be the largest ever, and therefore the first for a nation.