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Continental Congress Meet
- All colonies except 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's 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 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
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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 Soldiers in response
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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 wold not be easy
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Washington Arrives on Outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops
- Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
- Needs weapons
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"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
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British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive
- Washington puts 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
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Second Continental Congress Votes For Independence
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The Declaration of Independence is Signed
