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
  • 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.
  • 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
  • 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 the American Revolutionary War - "shot heard round the world" by 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

    Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

    • Benedict Arnold Ethan Allen capture the fort
    • Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
    • AMERICAN victory
  • Second Continental Congress meet

    Second Continental Congress meet

    • 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 Hessian Soldiers in response
  • Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

    Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

    • Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
    • Need weapons
  • "Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

    "Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

    • Pamphlet inspires more colonists to become Patriots
    • "Everything 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

    British Surrender Boston

    • Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive
    • Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
    • BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN victory
  • 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 independence
  • The Declaration of Independence is signed

    The Declaration of Independence is signed

    • BABY YOU'RE A FIREWORKKKKKK