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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 colonists to unite against Britian -
Great Britain Sends Troops
Several thousand troops get sent in and around Boston
British soldiers are instructed to take all of the weapons from the militias and arrest the leaders
700 troops sent to Concord to destroy all artillery and ammunition they find -
Washington reaches Boston
George Washington's army reaches Boston a few weeks after losing the Battle of Bunker Hill
The British held Boston
Patriot militia ringed the city
Washington began disciplining his troops and turning them into soldiers -
British on the Move
Colonial leader Dr.Joseph Warren sees British troops marching out of Boston
Has Paul Revere and William Dawes warn the people of Lexington
Paul and William get captured
Samuel Prescott carried the warning to Concord
The battle for independence had begun -
Battle of Fort Ticonderoga
Ticonderoga was in a key location and had lots of military supplies
Benedict Arnold raised a militia of 400 to capture it
Joined forces with Allen's men
Caught the British by surprise and captured it -
Second Continental Congress Meeting
Greatest leaders and delegates in the country
Not ready to vote for a break from Britain yet
authorized printing money
set up a post office
formed a committee for relationships with Natives and foreign countries
created Continental army - George Washington commander -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Patriot militias growing to about 20,000
William Prescott sets up posts on Bunker Hill and Breeds Hill
The British attacked the bunkers
Americans were too low on ammo and had to withdraw
British victory with lots of loss - more than 1000 dead and wounded -
Common Sense
Thomas Paine published a pamphlet titled Common Sense
Calling for a complete break from British rule
Greatly influenced opinions throughout the colonies -
Henry Lee's Resolution
Argued that the States ought to be free and independent
The Congress debated Lee's resolution
Some said the war has already begun, some still feared the British -
Washington seized Boston
Washington leads his troops into Boston
William Howe commands British soldiers to retreat
British troops sailed away to Halifax, Nova Scotia -
Lee's Vote For Independence
The second continental congress voted on Lee's resolution for independence
Twelve colonies voted for independence
New York did not vote, but later showed support -
Declaration of Independence
Delegates approve the Declaration of Independence after making some changes
John Hancock signed first
56 delegates signed the document
Copies of the Declaration of Independence are sent to each new state -
Reading of The Declaration
George Washington had the declaration read to his troops
Worcester, Massachusetts holds a public reading
Repeated joyful fires of muskets, cannons, and bonfires -
Arnold's Betrayl
Became a traitor to Patriot cause
Sold military information to the British
Got caught for his crimes
Fled to British-controlled New York City
Led British troops against the Americans