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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 Britian -
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 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 hired 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 inspired 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.
*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!
