-
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 - Virginia rep. urged colonies to unite against Britain
-
1000'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..." -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battles of Lexington-
- first battle in 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
-AMERICAN VICTORY -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- AMERICAN VICTORY
-
Second Continental Congress meet
- Print money
- 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
-
The 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.
-
Washington arrives on outskirts of 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
- "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
-
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 meet again
- Debate on declaring independence
- Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
-
Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
- All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence
-
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IS SIGNED!
