Road to Independence

First Continental Congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

• All colonies but Georgia have representatives
• Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
• Voted to Boycott all British Trade
• Patrick Henry - Virginia rep. urged colonists to unite against Britain
• "I am not a Virginian but an American."

Washington gives the Continental Army a military glow-up

1775

• Washington leads militia to Boston, a few weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill
• The colonial force lacked discipline and training
• Washington ordered for cannons to be hauled 300 miles to Fort Ticonderoga

Revere and Dawes to Lexington

Apr 18, 1775

• Dr. Joseph Warren tells Paul Revere & William Dawes he saw the British leaving
• Revere and Dawes ride to Lexington with the warning
• Samuel Prescott takes the warning to Concord

Lexington and Concord

Apr 19, 1775

• Captain John Parker led 70 minutemen in Lexington
• A shot was fired that started it all
• Eight minutemen lay dead
• British continued to Concord, but got stopped at North Bridge
• The British were ambushed on there way back to Boston
• 174 wounded, 73 dead

Fort Ticonderoga Surrenders

May 10, 1775

• Benedict Arnold leads militia of 400
• Arnold teams up with Ethan Allen
• The Green Mountain Boys attack Fort Ticonderoga
• The Fort is surrendered

Second Continental Congress

May 10, 1775

• Famous faces showed up including: Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington.
• Benjamin Franklin came; Helped repeal stamp act
• John Hancock was the Lawful Neutral boat merchant from "Sons of Liberty"
• Thomas Jefferson was 32 and Virginian
• Another year before Declaration of Independence

Richard Henry Lee's Bold Resolution

May 10, 1775

• Lee says this at the Second Continental Congress: "That these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be , free and independent states... and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain is and ought to be, totally dissolved."

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

• Volunteers joined Boston militia; Around 20,000 in militia
• Militia commanded by William Prescott set posts up on Bunkers's Hill and Breed's Hill
• British went to attack multiple times
• Americans retreated because of low ammunition

Declaration of Independence spreads

Jul 9, 1775

• Washington has Declaration read to his men

Thomas Paine Tells the British to Shut Up

1776

• Thomas Paine came to the Colonies in 1774
• Two years later he wrote "Common Sense"
• He said there should be a break in the British rule
• Influenced opinions

Britain retreats to Canada

Mar 17, 1776

• Washington leads men under cover of darkness
• The British were sailing to Halifax, Nova Scotia

Second Continental Congress Votes

Jul 2, 1776

• Second Continental Congress voted on Lee's opinion; 12 colonies voted for independence (New York are losers)

John Adams Wants to Make a Holiday

Jul 2, 1776

• John Adams writes, "The Second Day of July 1776... ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade... and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other"
• July 4th became Independence Day instead

Delegates Approve Declaration

Jul 4, 1776

• After some changes, delegates approved the Declaration.
• John Hancock signed the declaration first
• 56 delegates signed the Declaration

Arnold Betrays Us

1780

• Arnold gives information to the British and switches sides