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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 pf Fort Ticonderoga
Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
Americans capture much needed supplies and ammunition in the fort including cannons.
American victory -
Second Continental Congress meet
Print money (change from British pounds to American dollars)
Set up post office
Created Continental Army led by George Washington
Sent Olive Branch Petition asking King George III to protect their rights.
King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response. -
Battle of Bunker Hill
fought on Breeds Hill
"Don't fire until you see the whites of there eyes."-William Prescott
British victory(Americans ran out of ammo)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
"Everything 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 meets again
Debate on declaring independence from Great Britain
Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental congress votes for independence
All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence -
The declaration of independence is signed