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The Second Continental Congress
The colonial leaders called The Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia to debate their next move. The congress agreed to make the colonial militia as the Continental Army. -
The Patriots declare independence
The Patriots wanted independence from Britain since they protested that Britain had no right to tax them without the consent of their own colonial assemblies. -
Fighting at Lexington and Concord
Colonists were night watching when three men rode out and spread the word that there were 700 British troops headed for Concord. The king's troop was red jackets so they reached Lexington when the battle occured. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
General Thomas Gage decided to strike back at the militia men on Breed's hill. He sent 2,400 British troops up the hill. The colonist lost 450 men and the British suffered over 1,000 casualties. -
Thomas Paine's Common Sense
Thomas wrote a 50-page pamphlet called Common Sense. This attacked King George and the monarchy. He declared that independence would allow America to trade. -
The War of Independence
The Loyalists who opposed independence and the Patriots who supported independence declared a war. They wanted to be free from the British. -
Declaring Independence
The Continental Congress decided to urge each colony to form its own government. Richard Henry said that all of the United colonies should be equal. Thomas Jefferson was chosen to prepare the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. -
Colonists declare Freedom
The delegates vote that Americans should be free and on the 4th, they adopted the Declaration of Independence. The colonist declared their freedom from Britain.
