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continental congress meets
- All colonies but Georgia have representatives
- voted to send "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 redcoats in Boston
General Gage brings thousands of British solders 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.." -
Battels of Lexington and Concord
Battle of Lexington-
- 1st battle of 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 and Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- AMERICAN victory
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Second continental congress meet
- Print $$$
- Set up post office
- Created continental army lead by George Washington
- Sent olive branch asking king to protect their rights
- king hires 30,000 hessians soldiers in response
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Battle of bunker hill
- Fought on breed's hill
- " Don't fire till you see the whites of their eyes"- William Prescott
- BRITISH victory ( Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating the Americans would NOT be easy.
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Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with continental troops
- realizes men are disorganized and need discipline -need weapons
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"common sense" published by Tomas 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" - Tomas Paine, common sense
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British surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready and 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
- Tomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
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Second continental congress votes for independence
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The declaration of independence is singed !!!