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Continental Congress
- All colonies but Georgia have representatives
- Voted to send a "statement of grievances" *Voted to Boycott all British Trade *Patrick Henry - VA rep. Urged the colonists to unite against the British
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1,000's Redcoats of 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
-1st battle of American Revolutionary War
-"Shot heard round the world" :Ralph Waldo Emerson
-British Victory
*Battle of Concord
-American stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
*Bendict Arnlod & Ethan Allen capture the fort
*Get all supplies in the fort including cannons.
*AMERICAN victory -
The Second Continental Congress meet
*Print Money
*Set up post office
*Created Continental Army led by George Washington
*Sent an Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
-King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response -
Battle of Bunker Hill
*Fought on Breed's hill
*"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" - William Prescott
*BRITISH victory (American ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy. -
Washington arrive on outskirts f 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 Meets Again
*Debated on declaring Independence
*Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of this document -
Second Continental Congress vote for Independence
*All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence -
The Declaration of Independence is signed!
