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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
---first battle of American Revolutionary War
-- "Shot heard round the world"-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
--- BRITISH victory Batlle of Concord
--- Americans stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
---AMERICAN victory -
Second Continental Congress meet.
--Print $$$$
---They set up a post office
--They created Continental army led by George Washington
--- sent an olive branch (a thing for peace) asking the king to protect their rights
--king hire 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
Benedict Arnold Ethan Allen capture the fort
Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
AMERICAN victory. -
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 and need discipline
--- Need weapons -
"Common Sense" Published by Thomas Paine
--Pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
--- "Everything 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 -
British Surrender Boston
--Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive
---Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
-- BRITISH retreat---AMERICAN victory -
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 is signed!
--- All thirteen colonies sighed the declaration of independence
---John Hancock's signature was really bold about his signature .