Road to Independence

battles of lexington & concord

Apr 19, 1754

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

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1768

Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
get all supplies in the fort including cannons
AMERICAN Victory

1,000's of redcoats in Boston

Apr 1, 1770

general Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way. 2

Common Sense published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1774

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 panie common sense

washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

Jul 15, 1774

Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
need weapons

Road to Independence

Sep 5, 1774

The First Continental Congress was a meeting of delegates from 12 of the 13 British Colonies, that met to deal with the Intolerable Acts. Georgia was the only colony that did not send a representative to the Congress. They agreed to boycott British goods at first, if Parliment would not repeal the Intolerable Acts.

British surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1775

Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN Victory

Midnight ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

paul revere ride to warn the sons of liberty in lexington and conocord that British a

second continental congress meet

May 10, 1775

print $$$$
set up post office
created continental army led by George Washington
sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
-king hires 30,000 Hessian Soldiers in response

Battle of bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

fought on Breed's Hill MAP
"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.

second continental congress meet again

Jun 15, 1776

Debate on declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

the declaration of independence is signed!

Jul 4, 1776

first continental congress meets

Sep 5, 1777

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

second continental congress votes for independence

Jul 2, 1786

all 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence