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Continental Congress Meets
-All colonies except Georgia have reps.
-Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
-Voted to boycott all British Trade. -
Thousands of Redcoats in Boston
General Gage brings thousands of British soilders to Boston with more on the way. -
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..." -
Battle of Lexington & Concord
Lexington: 1st battle of American Revolutionary War. "Shot heard round the world."- Ralph Waldo Emerson. British victory.
Concord: Americans stop British and force them to retreat to Boston. American victory. -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort at night. Americans capture much needed supplies and ammunition in the fort including cannons. American victory. -
Seccond Continental Congress Meets
-Print money.
-Set up post office.
-Created Continental army led by George Washington.
-Sent Olive Branch Petition asking King George lll to protect their rights.
-King hires 30,000 Hessian Soilders 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 & need discipline.
-Need weapons. -
"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
-Pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots.
-"Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separtation. The blood of the slains, the weeping voice of nature cries, "TIS TIME TO PART"- Thomas Paines, 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. -
Seccond Continental Congress meet again
-Debate on declaring independence from Great Britain.
-Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document. -
Seccond Continental Congress votes for Independence
-All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence. -
Declaration of Independence signed!
