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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 -
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 "The British are coming...The British are coming" -
Battles of Lexington & 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 The 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 meet
- 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 Hessian 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 run out of ammo) 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 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
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British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes army is ready & weapons arrive
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester
- 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
