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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 1,000's 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
- the first battle of the American Revolutionary War.
- "shot heard round the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
- BRITISH Victory
- Battle of Concord
- Americans stop British 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 General George Washington
- Sent olive branch asking King to protect their rights
- the King hires 30,000 Hessians 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 there 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 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 overlook Boston
- BRITSIH 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!
