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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 colonies to unite agents Britain -
1000'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 and Concord
*Battle of Lexington
-first battle of the American Revolutionary War
-shot heard round the world Ralph waldo Emerson
-BritishVictory
*Battle of Concord
-Americans stop 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 cannons
*American victory -
Second Continental Congress meet
*print money
*set up post office
*Created Continental Army led by George Washington
*sent Olive Branch asking the King to protect their rights
-King hires 30,000 Hessian Soldiers in response -
Battle of Bunker Hill
*fought on a hill called Breeds 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 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 stain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'tis time to part''. Thomas Paine -
British surrender Boston
*Washington believes his army is ready and 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 writer of this document -
Second Continental Congress vote for Independence
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The Declaration if Independence is signed
