Road to Revolution 5.3 & 5.4

Continental Congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

• 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

Apr 1, 1775

• General Gage bring thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way.

Midnight ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

• 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

Apr 19, 1775

• Battle of Lexington-
  • 1st battle of American Revolutionary War
  • "shot heard round the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
  • BRITISH Victory -Battle of Concord-
  • Americas stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
  • AMERICAN Victory

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

• Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
• Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
• Second AMERICAN Victory

Second Continental Congress meet

May 10, 1775

• Pint $$$$
• Set up post office
• Created Continental Army led by George Washington
• Sent Olive Branch asking the King to protest their rights
  • King hires 30,000 Hessian's Soldiers in response

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

• fought on Breed's Hill
• "Don't Fire until you see the whites of their eyes' - William Prescott
• BRITISH Victory (Americas ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy.

Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

Jul 15, 1775

• Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
• Need weapons

"Common Sense" published by Tomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

• pamphlet inspires more colonists to became 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" - Tomas Paine, Common Sense

Biritish Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

• Washington beliives his army is ready and weapons arrive
• Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
• BRITISH retreats - AMERICAN Victory

Second Continental Congress meet again

Jun 15, 1776

• Debate on declaring independence
• Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

Second Continental Congress votes for Independence

Jul 2, 1776

The Declaration of Independence is signed!

Jul 4, 1776