-
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
-
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 and concord
- battle of Lexington -1st battle of america revolutionary war -"short 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 hires 30,000 Hessian's 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 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."
-
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
-
The Declaration of Independence is signed
