Massachusetts displeased with Br after coercive acts
Advertisements to get young men to join the military
Led by George Washington
Br hired German mercenaries against Americans
Lexington and Concord
General Gauge, April 14th, 1775 is ordered by Sec of State, Lrd. Dartmouth is ordered to inforce Coercive Acts
Force in necessary
Gauge orders Francis Smith to attack
Francis leads men to Concord to an ammo depot
Brings 700 troops
Right before he leaves, word gets to Boston Committee of Safety
Committee sent Revere and W. Daws to warn countryside
Revere reaches Lexington at midnight, warns Sam Adams, John Hancock
Joined by Sam Prescott. Three ride to Concord, Daws is turned back, Revere captured
When Smith arrives in Lexington w/ 700 men, Minutemen gather up (All 70)
Smith tells Minutemen to surrender
Someone shoots at them, British return fire, killing 8, wounding 10.
Smith wins, leaves men at Lexington, takes rest to Concord to destroy ammo depot, as they are coming back, 4000 Americans attack
Of 700 redcoats, 73 killed, 140 wounded.
Lose 93 Americans
British army sieged Boston
Police, curfew
Americans had to plot outside of Boston
Thomas Paine
Common Sense, intellectual retaliations
Problems with Monarchy
Origin and designs of government
State of American affairs
How could America beat the British?
America
Strengths
A widespread acquaintance with firearms
Had far superior rifles
George Washington
Fighting in own territory
Weaknesses
State Militia conflicts
Short term enlistments
Shortage of supplies
Shortage of shelter
1/3 Population were loyalists
South made money from cash crops, ship to Britain
Women accompanied soldiers, drain on supplies, needed protection
Weak Navy
Start of submarine warfare, "The Turtle"
Britain
Strengths
Well equipped
Strong Navy
Well paid
Many loyalists
Weaknesses
Long way to sail
Not familiar with the geography
Unaccustomed to unconventional warfare
Unclear aims
Poor recruiting
Unpopular war
Fighting British citizens
Low estimation of American forces
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