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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 -
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... "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 British and force them to retreat back to Boston
-AMERICAN Victory -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
-Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
-Get all supplies 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 asking King to protect their rights
-King hires 30,000 Hessian 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 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 separation. The blood of the slain, the 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 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
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The Declaration of Independence is signed!
