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First 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 -
1000'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 and Concord
-Battle of Lexington
-1st battle of American Revolutionary war
-"shot heard round the world" - Ralph Waldo
-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 -
Second Continental Congress meet
-Print $$$$
-Set up office
-Created Continental army led by George Washington
-Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights
-King hires 30000 Hessians Soliers 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
-"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 read & weapons arrive
-Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
-BRITSICH 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
- All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence
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The Declaration of Independence is signed