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The Second Continental Congress
The Continental Congress agreed to meet again is the British did not address their complaints. -
Choosing Sides between Britain and Patriots.
Colonists had a choice to remain loyal to Great Britain or to join the Patriots. The British were not for having a war and agreeing to uphold the British rule. As the Patriots supported the war and agreed to have the right to govern, -
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 British. -
Great Britain Sends Troops
Several thousand British troops were in and around Boston. More of the British troops were on the way. General Gage ordered 700 troops to go Concord and destroy the artillery and all the ammunition they can find. -
The War Heats Up
Washington reached the Boston area in July. Washington needed weapons and he arranged to have dozens of cannons delivered 300 miles from Fort Ticonderoga. Then, Washington thought his army was ready to fight. British General Howe commanded his soldiers to board ships and withdraw from Boston. -
The British on the Move
Colonial protest leader Dr.Joseph Warren walked through Boston. Warren saw the troops coming and noticed Paul Revere and William Dawes. All of them spread the word that the British were coming. -
Lexington and Concord
The British continued their march. The British reached Lexington and came to 70 minutemen. When they were finished 8 minutemen lay dead. Then, the British continued to Concord. When they arrived they were met with more minutemen and they took a heavy loss. They made their way back to Boston. -
More Military Action
Once the battles at Lexington and Concord were finished the British spread. Benedict Arnold raised a force to seize Fort Ticonderoga in New York. Ticonderoga is rich in military supplies. Arnold joined forces with Allen's men called the Green Mountain Boys. Later Arnold became a traitor to the patriot cause. -
The Second Continental Congress Meeting
John and Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and George Washington were at the Second Continental Congress Meeting. As much information they talked about during the Congress they still weren't ready to vote for a break from Britain. -
The Battle of Bunker Hill
Following through Lexington and Concord more volunteers joined the militias. The redcoats assembles at Breed's Hill. Prescott forced the British to retreat. The Americans ran out of gun powder and had to withdraw. -
Governing the Colonies
The Continental Congress took steps to begin governing the colonies. As Franklin was in charged they started printing money and they set up a post office. The Congress also set up a group to help the foreign countries as well as the Native Americans. George Washington was chosen to lead the Army. -
Moving Toward Independence
The support for independence kept on growing. Thomas Paine was inspired and arrived into the colonies from England in 1774. He finished writing a pamphlet called Common Sense in January of 1776. -
The Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence announced the freedom. The 4 sections of the Declaration has the preamble, a list of rights the colonists believed they should have, and the proclaims of the new nation. -
Writing the Declaration
John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman formed the committee to write the declaration. Thomas Jefferson agreed to do the writing. After Jefferson finished writing the Declaration he made some changes and the delegates approved the document on July 4th, 1776.