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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
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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.." -
Battle of Lexington & Concrd
- Battle of Lexington
- 1st battle of American Revolutionary War
- "shot heard around the world"- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- BRITISH Victory
- Battle of Concord
- Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
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Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort -get supplies in the fort including cannons
- AMERICAN Victory
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The 2nd Continental congress meet
print $$$
set up post office
Created continental army led by George Washington
Sent Olive Branch petition asking King to protect their rights
king hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response -
The 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
BRITISH Victory -
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
"Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for seperation. 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
Washting 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
