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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.
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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.
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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..."
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Battles of Lexington and Concord
- Battle of Lexington :
- 1st battle of American Revolutionary 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
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Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort.
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons.
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Second Continental Congress Meet
- Print $$$.
- Set up post office.
- Created Continental Army led George Washington .
-Sent Olive Branch asking King 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 (Americans 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 and need discipline.
- Need weapons
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"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
- Pamphlets inspires more colonists to become patriots. " Every thing that is right or reasonable pleads fro separation. 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 and weapons arrive.
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston.
- BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN 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 !
