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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 Sept. 5, 1774(09/05/1774)
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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.
April 1, 1775 (04/01/1775) -
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.."
April 18, 1775 (04/18/1775) -
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
April 19, 1775 (4/19/1775) -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
-Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- AMERICAN Victory May 10, 1775 (5/10/1775) -
Second Continental Congress meet
-Print $$$
-Set up post office
-Created Continental Army led by George Washington
-Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
-King hires 30,000 Hessian's Soldiers in response May 10, 1775 ( 05/10/1775) -
Battle of Bunker Hill
-Fight 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. June 16, 1775 ( 06/16/1775) -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
-Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
-Need weapons July 15, 1775 (07/15/1775) -
"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
-pamphlet inspires more colonist 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 January 10, 1776 ( 01/10/1776) -
British Surrender Boston
-Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
-Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
-BRITISH retreat- AMERICAN Victory March 17, 1776 (03/17/1776) -
Second Continental Congress meet again
-Debate on declaring independence
-Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document June 15, 1776 (06/15/1776) -
Second Continental Congress vote for Independance
July 2, 1776 (07/02/1776) -
The Declaration of Independence is signed!
July 4, 1776 (07/04/1776)