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Continental Congress Meets
- all colonists 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 Britian
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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 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 Rovolutionary 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 cannons
- American Victory
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Second Continental Congress meet
- Print money
- Set up post office
- Created Continental Army led by George Washington
- Sent Olive Branch asking Kong 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 ( American 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 patriot
- " everything that is right or reeasonable pleads for seperationg. 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, Americsn 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
