Road To Independence

  • First Continental Congress Meets

    First Continental Congress Meets
    • All colonies but Georgia have representatives
    • Voted to send a statement of grievances
    • Voted to boycott all British Trade
    • Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britain
  • British Surrender Boston

    British Surrender Boston
    • Washington believes his army is ready and his weapons arrive
    • Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
    • British retreat, American Victory
  • 1,000's of Redcoats in Boston

    1,000's of Redcoats in Boston
    • General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way
  • Midnight ride of Paul Revere

    Midnight ride of Paul Revere
    • Paul Revere rides to warn the Sons of Liberty in Lexington and Concord that the "British are coming... The British are coming.."
  • Battles of Lexington and Concord

    Battles of Lexington and Concord
    Battle of Lexington
    - 1st battle of American Revolutionary War
    - "shot heard round the world" Ralph Waldo Emerson
    - Britsh Victory
    Battle of Concord
    - Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
    - American Victory
  • Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

    Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
    • Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort
    • Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
    • American Victory
  • Second Continental Congress meet

    Second Continental Congress meet
    • Print money
    • Set up post office
    • Created Continental Army led by George Washington -Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
    • King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    Battle of Bunker Hill
    • Fought on Breed's Hill
    • "Don't Fire until you see the whites of their eyes" - William Prescott
    • British Victory (Americans ran out of ammunition)
    • British learn defeating Americans would not be easy
  • Washington Arrives on Outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops

    Washington Arrives on Outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops
    • Realizes men are disorganized and need disipline
    • Need weapons
  • "Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

    "Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
    • Pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
    • "Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'Tis Time To Part' - Thomas Paine, Common Sense
  • Second Continental Congress meet again

    Second Continental Congress meet again
    • Debate on declaring independence
    • Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
  • Second Continental Congress votes for Independence

    Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
    • All 13 colonies vote yes on declaring indepedence
  • The Declaration of Independence is signed

    The Declaration of Independence is signed