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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 "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 Hessians 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!!
