-
Continental Congress meets
- All colonists but Georgia have representatives.
- Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
-Voted to boycott all British Trade
- Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged colonist to unite against Britain
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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 the British and force them to retreat back to Boston
-AMERICAN VICTORY -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
-Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort
-Get all supplies in the fort including canons
-AMERICAN VICTORY -
Second Continental Congress meets
-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 hessians 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 defending Americans would NOT be easy. -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston w/ Continental troops
-Realizes men are disorganized and 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 separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, TIS TIME TO PART" To=homas 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 - AMERIAN 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
-
The decoration of independence is signed
