Road to Independence

First Continental Congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

• 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

1000s of Redcoats in Britain

Apr 1, 1775

• General Gage brings many British troops to Boston with more on the way.

Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

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

Apr 19, 1775

• Battle of Lexington
  • 1st official 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
  • AMERICAN victory

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

• Benedict Arnold Ethan Allen capture the fort
• Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
• American victory

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

• fought on Breed's Hill
• "Don't fire until you can see the whites of their eyes" - William Prescott
• British victory (Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy.