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Continental Congress Meets
-All colonies except for Georgia has representatives.
-Voted to send a "Statement of Grievances"
-Voted to Boycott all British Trade
- Patrick Henry- VA rep. urged colonist 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
-The Battle of Lexington
~1st battle of American Revolutionary War
~"Shot heard 'round the world'" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
~BRITISH victory
-The 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 Meeting
-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 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 & 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 slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, ‘TIS TIME TO PART."
—from Common Sense, 1776 -
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 Meets Again
-Debate on declaring independence
-Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress Votes for Independence
-Everyone voted yes -
The Declaration of Independence is Signed
-4 OF JULY!!!