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First 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 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
- Battle of Lexington - -1st battle of America 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
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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 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
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"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
- pamphlet inspires 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
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Britsh Surender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
- BRITISH retreat- AMERICAN Victory
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Second Continental Congress Meet again
-Debate on declaring independence
- 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