Road to Revolution 5.3 & 5.4

By Frances Conley

  • Continental Congress meets

    • All colonies but Georgia have representatives.
    • Voted to send a "statement of grievance"
    • Voted to Boycott all British Trade
    • Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britain.

  • British Surrender Boston

    • Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive.
    • Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
    • BRITISH retreat - AMERICANS victory

  • 1,000 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.."

  • The battle of Lexington & Concord

    • Battle of Lexington is known to be the first battle of the American Revolutionary War
    • Also known as the "shot heard around the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
    • British victory Battle of Concord- Americans stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston.

  • Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

    • Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort.
    • Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
    • Americans victory

  • Second Continental Congress Meet

    • Print $$$$
    • Set up post office
    • Created Continental Army led by George Washington
    • Sent Olive Branch asking the 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
    • 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

  • "Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

    • Pamphlet inspired 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 cries, "TIS TIME TO PART" - Thomas Paine, Common Sense

  • Second Continental Congress meet again

    • Debate on declaring independence
    • Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

  • Second Continental Congress votes for independance

    • All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence

  • The Declaration of independence is signed!

    Fireworkssssssssss