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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 -
1000s 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 around the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
BRITISH Victory
Battle of Concord
Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
AMERICAN Victory -
Second Continental Congress Meet
Print Money
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 Soldiers in response -
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Bennedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in fort including cannons
- American victory
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The Battle of Bunker Hill
- Fought on Breed's hill
- "Don't fire til you see the whites in their eyes"- William Prescott
- British Victory (Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating the Americans will not be easy.
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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 his 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!
