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Continental Congress Meets
*All colonies but Georgia had 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 Revolution War.
- "Shot heard 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 Arnolds & Ethan Allen capture the fort
-Get all supplies in the fort including cannons.
-AMERICAN Victory -
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) -
"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." —from Common Sense, 1776 -
British Surrender Boston
-Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive.
-Washinton puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston.
-BRITISH retreat - AMERICAN Victory -
Second Continental Congress meet again
-Debate on declaring independance
-Thomas Jefferson is thr primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
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The Declaration of Independence is signed!