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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
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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 around 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 the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- AMERICAN Victory
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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's Soldiers in response
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Battle of Bunker Hill
-fought on Breeds Hill
"Don fire until you see the white of 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 from separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, "TIS TIME TO PART" - Thomas Paine, Common Sense
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British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
- BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN Victory.
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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 signed!!
