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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 -
1,000s 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 the 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 -
Second Continential Congress Meet
-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 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 ammunation) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy -
Washington Arrives on Outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops
-Realizes men are disorganized & lack discipline
-Need weaponds -
"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 & weaponds arrive
-Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
-BRITISH retreat- AMERICAN Victory -
Second Continential 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
