-
continental congress meets
all colonies but Georgia has representatives
voted to send a "statement of grievances"
voted to boycott all British trade -
1,000's of redcoat's 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 american revolutionary war
-"shot heard round the world" Ralph waldo Emerson
-British victory
battle of concord
-Americans stop British and force the to retreat back to Boston
-american victory -
capture of fort ticonderoga
-Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Americans capture much needed supplies and ammunition 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 hessians 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.
-
wasington arrives on outskirts of boston with continental troops
-realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
- need weapons -
"common sense" published by thomas paine
- pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
- "everything 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 heights overlooking boston -British retreat- american victory
-
second continental congress meet again
- debate on declaring independence from great Britain
- 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