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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
*General Gage Brings thousands of British soldiers 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" -
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 there own $$$
*Set up post office
*Created Continental Army led by George Washington
*Sent Olive Branch asking the 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 out of ammunition) British learn defeationg Americans wouled 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 colonist 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
*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
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The Declaration of independence is signed
