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Continental Congress meets
-All colonies but Georgia 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 -
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 warn 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 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
-AMERICAN Victory -
Second Continental Congress meet
-Print money.
-Set up post office.
-Created a Continental Army led by George Washington.
-Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights.
-King hires 30,000 Hessian Soldiers in response. -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
-Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
-Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
-AMERICAN Victory -
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 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 meet again
-Debate on declaring independence.
-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!
Fireworks!!