-
continental congress meets
- all colonies but Georgia has representatives
- voted to send a "statement of grievances"
- voted to boycott all British trade
-
1,000 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 Revolution 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 & 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
- set up post office
- Created Continental Army led by George Washington
- Sent Olive Branch Petition asking King George III to protect their rights
- King 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 there eyes" - William Prescott
- BRITISH VICTORY (American ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would 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 has army is ready & weapons arrive
- Washington puts cannons in 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!
