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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 Britain
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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-
The 1st battle of the American Revolutionary war
"Shot heard round the world"- Ralph Waldo Emerson
BRITISH victory Battle of Concord-
Americans stop the British and force them to retreat back to Boston.
AMERICAN Victory -
second continental congress meet
- Print $$$
- Set up post office
- Created continental army led by George Washington
- Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their right King hires 30,000 Hessian soldiers in response
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Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all the supplies in the fort, including cannons. -AMERICAN VICTORY
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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 that defeating the Americans would NOT be easy.
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Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops
- Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
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"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 stain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'TIS THE TIME TO PART" - Thomas Paine, Common Sense
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British surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive.
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston.
- BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN victory
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Second Continental Congress meet again
- Debate on declaring independence
- Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
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Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
- All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence
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The Declaration of Independence is signed !!