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Continental Congress meets
-all the 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 -
1000's of Redcoats in Boston
-General Gage bring thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way -
Midnight ride of Paul Revere
-Paul Revere rides to warn the Son of Liberty in Lexington and Concord and the "British are coming....The British and coming.." -
Battles of Lexington & Concord
-Battle 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 fort including cannons
-AMERICAN Victory -
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 Soldiers in response -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
-Fought on Breeds 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 Deceleration of Independence is Signed
