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Contential Congress meet
All colonies but Georgia have representatives
Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
Voted to Boycott British Trade
Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged colonists to untie against Britain -
1,000's of Redcoats in Boston
General Gage brings thousands of British soliders 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 and Concord
Battle of Lexington - 1st battle of American Revolutinary 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 Continental 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 Soliders 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 easy -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
Need weapons -
"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
Pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
"Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads for seperation. 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 votes for Independence
All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence -
The Declaration of Independence is signed!
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Second Continental Congress meet again
Debate on declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document