Road to Independence

First Continental Congress Meets

Sep 5, 1774

1 All colonies but Georgia have representatives.
2 Voted to send a "statement of greivances"
3 Voted to boycott all british trade.
4 Patrick Henry -VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britian

1,000'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 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

Apr 19, 1775

1 Battle of Lexington
-first battle of American Revolutionary War
-"shot heard around the world" (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
-British victory
2 Battle of concord
-Americans Stop British and force them to retreat to Boston
-American victory

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

1 Benedict Arnold Ethan Allen capture the fort
2 Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
3 American victory

The second continental congress

May 10, 1775

1 Print $$$$
2 Set up post office
3 Created Continental Army led by George Washington
4 Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
-King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response.

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

1 fought on Breed's Hill
2 "Dont fire until you see the whites of their eyes" -William prescott
3 British victory (Americans ran out of ammunition)
4 British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy.

Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops.

Jul 15, 1775

1 Realizes men are disorganized need discipline.
2 Need weapons (guns and cannons)
3 Henry Knox painstakingly transports the cannons from Fort Ticonderoga

"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

1 pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
2 "Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for seperation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART" - Thomas paine, Common Sense.

British surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

1 Washington belives his army is ready weapons arrive
2 Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
3 British retreat- American Victory

Second Continental Congress meet again

Jun 15, 1776

1 Debate on declarig independance.
2 Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

Second continental congress votes for independence

Jul 2, 1776

1 All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence

The declaration of independence is signed

Jul 4, 1776