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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 -
1000'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 America Revolutionary War
-"shot hear round 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 canons
-AMERICAN Victory -
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 Hessian's Soldiers in response -
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
-"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 & weapons arrive
-Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
-BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN victory -
Second Continental Congress meet again
-Debate on declaring Independence
-Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
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The Declaration of Independence is signed!
