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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
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Midnight ride to 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 and 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 and Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- American History
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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 the rights
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Battle of Bunker Hill
- Fought on Breed's Hill Map
- "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
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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
- "Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for speration. 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
- All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence
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The Declaration of Independence is signed !