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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 -
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 & Concord
Battles of Lexington -
-1st battle of American Revolutionary War
- "shot heard round the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
- BRITISH Victory
Battle of Concord -
-Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
-AMERICAN Victory -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
-Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
-Get all supplies in the for including cannons
-AMERICAN Victory -
Second Continental Congress meets
-Print $$$$
-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
-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
-Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
-Need weapons -
"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 -
British Surrender Boston
Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
-Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
-BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN Victory -
Second Continental Congress meet again
-Debate on declaring independence
-Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
-All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence -
The Declaration of Independence is signed!