Road to Revolution

Continental Congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

• 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

1,000s of red coats in Boston

Apr 1, 1775

General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way

Midnight ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

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

Battle of Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington-
-1st battle of American Revolutionary War
-shot heard around the world
-British victory Battle of Concord
- Americans stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
- American Victory

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

-Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- American Victory

Second Continental Congress meet

May 10, 1775

-Print money
-set up post office
-created the continental army led by George Washington
- sent olive branch asking king to protect their rights
-king hires 30,000 hessian soldiers in response

Battle of Bunkerhill

Jun 16, 1775

-fought on breeds hill
- don't fire till you see the Whites of there eyes.
-British victory ( Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would not be easy

Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

Jul 17, 1775

-realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
-need weapons

Common sense published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

-"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

British surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

-Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive
-Washington puts cannons o orchestrate heights overlooking Boston
-British retreat- american victory

Second continental congress meet again

May 10, 1776

-Debate on declaring independence
-Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

Second Continental Congress votes for independence

Jul 2, 1776

The declaration of independence is signed

Jul 4, 1776