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Period: to
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 -
1000's of redcoats in boston
General Gage brings thousands 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 and 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 tinconderoga
Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort.
Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
American Victory -
Battle of bunker hill
-fought on breed's hill
-"Don't fire in till you see the whites in there 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
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"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,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
-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 soldiers in response -
Second continental congress meet again
- Debate on declaring independence
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second continental Congress votes for independence
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the Declaration of independence is signed