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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 Britian
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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" -
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 the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- AMERICAN victory
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Second Continental Congress Meet
- Print $$
- Set up a post office
- Created Continental Army lead by George Washington
- Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
- King hires 30,000 Hessian Soldiers in response
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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 ammo)
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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
- "Everything 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
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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
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Second Continental Congress Votes For Independence
- everyone votes yes
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The Deceleration of Independence is Signed
