-
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.
-
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 of warn the Sons of Liberty in Lexington and Concord that the "British are coming...The British are coming.." -
Battles of Lexington & Concord
- 1st battle of American Revolutionary War
- "shot heard round the world"-Ralph Waldo Emerson
- BRITISH Victory Battle of Concord-
- Americas 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 money
- Set up post office
- Created Continental Army led by George Washington
-Sent Olive branch asking King to protect their rights
- King hires 30,00 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 inspires more colonist 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"- Thomas Paine, Common Sense.
-
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 the independence
- Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document.
-
Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
-
The Declaration of Independence is signed!
