-
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 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
Battles of Lexington-
- 1st battle of American Revelation war
- "shot heard around the world"- Ralph Waldo Emerson
-BRITISH victory
Battles 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 meet
- Print $$$
- Set up post office
- created Continental Army led By George Washington
- Sent Olive Branch asking the king to protect their rights King hires 30,000 hessian 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 defending 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. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, TIS TIME 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 Vitory
-
Second Continental Congress meet again
- Debate on declaring independence -Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
-
Second Continental Congress votes for independence
-
The Declaration of Independence is singed
