-
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 -
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 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 -
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 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 -
Battle of Bunker Hill
-Fought of 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 and 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" - Thomas Paine, Common Sense -
British surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive -Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
-
Second Continental Congress meet again
-Debate on declaring independence
-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!
