Revolutionary War

The Colonists Choose Sides-

• The Colonies consisted of three groups:

  • 1/3 Patriots- Complete Independence, Inspired by Locke, Paine, Henry

  • 1/3 Loyalists- Tories, Remained Loyal to Britain, taxation justified

  • 1/3 Neutral- Tried to stay uninvolved

• By late 1774, many towns had put together militias and were drilling in public. A full scale rebellion was under way. These militias were known as “minute men”.

1st Continental Congress-

• 1st Continental Congress

  • The Committees of Correspondence had called a meeting to discuss what to do about the British

  • They met in Philadelphia on Sept. 5th, 1774 to show unity against unjust taxes

  • 6 main topics discussed

    • Galloway Plan

    • Suffolk Resolves

    • Continental Association/The Association

    • Committees of Correspondence

    • Declaration of Rights and Grievances

    • Adjourned meet in Spring of 1775 if the king did not repeal the Intolerable

• Patrick Henry

  • Was at the Congress and was for separation from England

  • In March of 1775 in front of the Virginia House of Burgess, he gave his famous “Give me Liberty or Give me Death” speech.