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Continental Congress meets
- All colonies but Georiga 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.
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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 warm 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. -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold & 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 a post office
- Created the Continental Army led 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 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.
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Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
- Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
- Need weapons
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"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
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British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready & 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
- Thomas 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 signed!
