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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 Britain -
1,000's of redcoats in Boston
General Gage bring 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 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
Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
AMERICAN Victory -
Second Continental Congress meets
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's Soldiers in response -
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 & need discipline
~Need weapons -
"Common Sense" plubished 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 & weapons arrive
~ Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Height overlooking Boston -
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