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First Continental Congress meets
- All colonies but Georgia have representatives.
- They voted to boycott British trade.
- They voted to send a ''statement of grievances''.
- Patrick Henry- Virginia 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 -
- 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.
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Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- AMERICAN Victory
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Second Continental Congress meet
- print $$$$
- Set up post office
- Created Continental Army led by George Washington
- Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
- King hires 30,00 Hessians Soldiers in response
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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 defeating Americans would NOT be easy.
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Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
- Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline -Need weapons -
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''Common Sense'' published by Thomas Paine
- pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
- ''Every thing 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
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British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready & 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!
- FIREWORKS!