Road to independence

By stu.lowerye@mishawaka.k12.in.us

  • first continental congress meets

    all colonies but Georgia have representatives

  • 1,000's of Readcoast 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.."

  • Battle of Lexington & Concord

    Battle of Lexington -
    -1st battle of American 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

  • Second Continental Congress meet

    • Print $$$$
    • Set up a 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

  • 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 nee discipline *Need weapons

  • "Common Sence" published by Thomas Paine

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

  • British Surrender Boston

    *Washington believes his army is ready 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!

    The Declaration of Independence is signed!