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Continental Congress Meets
-All colonies besides Georgia have representatives
-Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
-Voted to Boycott all British goods.
-Patrick Henry - VA rep. Urged colonies to unite against britian. -
1000'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 the fort
Gets supplies in the fort including cannons.
American Victory -
Second Continental Congress meet
-Printed Money
-Set up a post office
-Created army lead by George Washington
-Sent olive branch asking King George to protect their rights.
--King hires 30000 hessian 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 ammo) British learn defeating Americans would not be easy. -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops
-Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
-Needs more weapons. -
"Common Sense" By Thomas Paine
-Pamphlet inspires 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."
—from Common Sense, 1776 -
British Surrender Boston
-Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive
-Washington puts cannons 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!
