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Continental Congress meets
- All colonies but Georgia has representatives
- Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
- Voted to Boycott all British Trade
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1000'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 "The British are coming... The British are coming... -
Battles of Lexington and 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 -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
-Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort
-Americans capture much needed supplies and ammunition in the fort including cannons
-AMERICAN Victory -
Second Continental Congress meet
-Print money (change from British Pounds to American dollars)
-Set up post office
-Created Continental Army led by George Washington
-Sent Olive Branch Petition asking King George III to protect their rights
-Long hires 30,000 Hessian's 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 ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
-Realizes men are disorganization and needed discipline
-Need weapons -
"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 voiceof nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART" - Thomas Paine, Common Sense -
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
-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 declaration of Independence is signed!
