Road to Revolution 5.3 & 5.4

Continental Congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

All colonies but Georgia have representative.
Voted to send a "statement of grievances.
Voted to Boycott all British Trade
Patrick Henry - VA rep. urged colonists to unite against the Britain

1,000's of Redcoats in Boston

Apr 1, 1775

General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way.

Midnight ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

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

Apr 19, 1775

Battle of Lexington - Known to be 1st battle of American Revolution also known as "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

May 10, 1775

Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort.
Get all supplies in the fort including cannons.
AMERICAN Victory.

Second Continental Congress Meet

May 10, 1775

Print money.
Set up a post office.
Created a 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

Jun 16, 1775

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

Jul 15, 1775

Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline.
Need weapons.

"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

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." —from Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

British Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive.
Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston.
BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN Victory

Second Continental Congress meet again

Jun 15, 1776

Debate on declaring independence.
Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document.

Second Continental Congress votes for independence

Jul 2, 1776

All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence.

The Declaration of Independence is signed!

Jul 4, 1776

Fireworks! Yay!