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Continental Congress Meets
- All colonies but Georgia has representatives.
- Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
- Voted to Boycott all British Trade
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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.." -
Battles of Lexington and 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 Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort at night.
- Americans capture much needed supplies and ammunition in the fort including cannons. -American Victory.
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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 -
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 and 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 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 from Great Britain
-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!