Road to Revolution

Continental Congress Meet

Sep 5, 1774

~all colonies except Georgia have representatives
~voted to send a "statement of grievances"
~voted to boycott all British trade
~Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged the colonists to unite against Britain

1000's of Redcoats in Boston

Apr 1, 1775

~General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way

Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

~Paul rides to warn the SOns of Liberty in Lexington and Concord the the "British are coming... The British are coming..."

Battle of Lexington & Concord

Apr 19, 1775

~1st battle of American Revolutionary War
~"shot heard round the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
~British Victory ~Americans stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
American Victory

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

~Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
~Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
~American victory

The Second Continental Congress Meets

May 10, 1775

~Prints their own money
~Sets up a post office
~Created a 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

Jun 16, 1775

~Fought on Breed's Hill
~"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" - William Prescott
British victory (Americans ran out of ammo) British learn defeating Americans would not be easy

Washington Arrives on Outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops

Jul 15, 1775

~Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
~Need weapons

"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

~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, Common Sense

British Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

~Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive
~Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
~British retreat - American victory

Second Continental Congress Votes for Independence

Jun 2, 1776

~All 13 colonies vote yes on declaring independence

Second Continental Congress Meet Again

Jun 15, 1776

~Debate on declaring independence
~Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

The Declaration of Independence is Signed

Jul 4, 1776