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Continental Congress Meets
- All colonies but Georgia has 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.
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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 and 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 -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including canons
- AMERICAN Victory
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Second Continental Congress
- Printed currency/money
- Set up post office
- Created 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 Breeds hill
- "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes"- William Prescott
- BRITISH Victory (Americans ran out of ammunition)
- British learn that defeating Americans would NOT be easy
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Washington arrives on Outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops
- Realizes men are disorganized & lacks discipline
- Needs weapons
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"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, 1776)
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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!
