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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 colonists 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 warm 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 around 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 and Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the front including cannons
- AMERICAN VICTORY
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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 - Kings hires 30,000 Hessian's Soldiers in response.
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Battle of Bunker Hill
- Fought on Breeds 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 and need discipline
- Needs 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 and weapons arrive
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlook 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!