-
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
-The Battle of Lexington is the first battle of American Revolutionary War, called the "shot heard around the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson.
-The British were victorious.
-During the Battle of Concord, Americans stopped the British and forced them to retreat back to Boston.
-The Americans were victorious. -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
-Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort.
-Got all their supplies in the fort, including cannons.
-The Americans were victorious. -
Second Continental Congress Meeting
-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 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
-The British were victorious, since the Americans ran out of ammunition.
-The British learned that defeating the Americans would NOT be easy. -
Washington 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 THE 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.
-The British end up retreating; the Americans were victorious. -
Second Continental Congress Meets 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 signed!
