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First Continental Congress Meets
~All colonies except for 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 -
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
~The Battle of Lexington
-1st battle of American Revolutionary War
-"Shot heard 'round the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
-BRITISH Victory
~The 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 -
Second Continental Congress Meets
~Print $$$$
~Set up a post office
~Created Continental Army led by George Washington
~Sent Olive Branch asking King George to protect their rights
-King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response -
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)
~Bristish learn defeating the 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."
—from Common Sense, 1776 -
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 Meets again
~Debate on declaring independence
~Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress Votes For Independence
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The Declaration of Independence is Signed