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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 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 concord
- battle of Lexington-
- 1st battle of american revolutionary war "shot heard around the world" - Ralph waldo Emerson -British victory
- battle of concord- Americans stop British a 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
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 30,00 hessian soldiers in response -
battle of bunker hill
-fought on breeds 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 dis organized & discipline
-need weapons -
"common sense" published by Thomas Paine
-pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
-"everything 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
THEY VOTE FOR INDEPENDENCE -
the declaration of independence is signed
YAY