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The First Continential Congress
-Every colony but Georgia had a representative sent to the meeting
-12 of the 13 colonies showed up to the meeting.
-Patrick Henry wanted the colonies to come together in frim resistance
-The delegates voted for the repeal of 13 acts of Parliament.
-They believed the laws went against the "laws of nature" -
1000's of Redcoats in Boston
-Lots of colonists believed fighting with the British, would have to happen in New England
-Some militias were called minutemen
-Gage ordered to seize weapons form the Massachusetts militia and arrest the leaders
- Gage ordered that is "where you will seize and destory all of the artillery and ammunation you can find"
-Protest leader Dr. Joseph strolled through Boston. -
Midnight ride of Paul Revere
-At dawn, the redocats headed towards Lexington
-The redcoats rain into 70 minuteman in Lexington
-When the shooting ended, there was 8 minutemen laying dead
-The minutemen were ready for the redcoats to come that night -
Battles of Lexington and Concord
-By the time the shooting ended, 8 minutemen were dead
-Along the way, colonist hid behind trees and fired on the soldiers
-By the time redcotas reached their destination, 174 were wonded and 73 were dead.
- 60 years later, Ralph Emerson worte that the Americans at Lexington and Concord fired the "shot heard 'round the world."
-The battle of independence has started -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
-After the fight with Lexington and Concord, armed fights with British forces quickly spread
-The Connecticut militia raised a force of 400 to seize Fort Ticonderoga near lake Champlain
-Arnold became a traitor to the Patriot cause. -
Second Continental Congress Meet
-In 1774 the congress agreed to meet again if the British did not complain
-The dispute between British and the colonies had gotten worse
-Benjamin Franklin held with the stamp act
-Printed money
-set up post office
-created Continental Army led by George Washington
-John Hancock was the leader
-"Olive Branch Petition"
-German troops were called Hessians and there were 30,000 soldiers in response -
Battle of Bunker Hill
-After the battle, more volunteers joined the militias
-Boston numbered about 20,000 people more strong
-The British remained in control of the city
-"Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes." Ordered Prescott
-The Battle of Bunker Hill was a British victory
-The British quickly learned that fighting the Americans would not be easy
-The American war was not just a fight between the British and America, it was also a civil war
-The Patriots supported the War -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
-American attack on Quebec, led by Benedict Arnold, failed.
- Realized men needed to be disciplined cause of disorganization
-needed more weapons
-William Howe commanded his soldiers to board ships and withdraw from attacking Boston -
"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
-Support for independence was still growing
-In Janurary of 1776, Paine published a pamphlet called "Common Sense"
-The pamphlet greatly influenced opinions
-"Every thing tat 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 thinks his army is ready to fight correctly
- Washington puts cannons over Dorchester Heights ready to attack Boston
-American win over British retreat -
Second Continental Congress meet Again
-Debate on delcaring independence
-Arguments that independence should not be declared
-Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress votes for independence
-All 13 colonies vote yes on delcaring independence
-Jefferson agreed he would do the writing for the great project
-People form governments to protect those rights and a government interfering with those rights could rigthfully be overthrown.
-56 delegates signed a document announcing the brith of the United States -
The Declaration of Independence is signed!
-Decleration of independence date should be a national holiday, celebrated as independence day