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Continental Congress Meets
-All colonies but georgia have representitives
-Voted to send a "statement of grievences"
-Voted to Boycott all British Trade
-Patrick Henry- VA rep. urged colonists to unite against Britain -
1,000's of Red Coats in Boston
-General Gage brings thousands of British soilders 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..." -
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
Battle of Lexinton
- 1st battle of American Revolutionary War
- "Shot hear around the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
- British victory
Battle of Concord
- Americans stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
- American victory -
The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Bennedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in fort including cannons
- American victory
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The Second Continental Congress Meeting
- Print money
- Set up a post office
- Created Continental Army led by George Washington
- Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights ~ King hires 30,000 Hessians Soilders in response
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The Battle of Bunker Hill
- Fought on Breed's Hill
- "Don't fire til you see the whites in their eyes" - William Presscott
- 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
- 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 his army is ready and weapons arrive
- Washington puts his 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 -
Second Continental Congress Votes for Independence
- All 13 colonies voted YES on declaring independence
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The Declaration of Independence is Signed!
YAY INDEPENDENCE!!!