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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 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 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 $$$$
- 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 respose
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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 wound NOT be easy. -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
-Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
-Needs 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 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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Declaration of Independence is signed!