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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
*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 Ticonderoga
*Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture fort
*Geet all supplies in the fort including Cannons
*AMERICAN Victory -
Declaring Independence: Second Continental Congress meet
*Print $$$
*Set up post office
*Created Continental Army led by George Washington
*Sent Olive Branch asking Kind 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. -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
*Realizes men are disorganized & ned disipline
*Need weapons -
"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
*Pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patroits
*"Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for seperation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART" -Thomas Paine, Common Sense -
British Surrender Boston
*Washinton 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
*Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress Votes for Independence
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The Declaration of Independence is signed!
