-
Continental Congress meets
All colonies but Georgia has representatives
Voted to send a "statement of grievances"
Voted to Boycott all British Trade -
1,00'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.." -
Second Continental Congress meet
- Print $$$$ (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
-
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Americans capture much needed supplies and ammunition 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
- "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
-
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 from Great Britain
- 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!