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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 colonist 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 round the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
- BRITISH Victory
- Battle of Concord -
- Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
- AMERICAN Victory
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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 $$$$, -Set up a 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 would NOT be easy.
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Washington Arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
- Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline, -Need more 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!
