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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. -
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 -
The Second Continental Congress Meets
~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 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 defeated easy. -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
~Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
~Needs weapons -
"Common Sense" published 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." -Thomas Paine, Common Sense -
British Surrender Boston
~Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
~Washington puts cannons on 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!
