Road to Revolution 5.3 and 5.4

Continental Congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

• 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]

1000s of Redcoats in Boston

Apr 1, 1775

• General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way.

Midnight ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

• 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

Apr 19, 1775

• Battle of Lexington ~
  • 1st battle of America Revolutionary War.
  • "Shot heard round the world"- Ralph Waldo
  • BRITISH Victory
• Battle of Concord ~
  • Americans stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
  • AMERICAN Victory

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

• Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort.
• Get all supplies in the fort including cannons.
• AMERICAN victory

second continental congress meet

May 10, 1775

• print $$
• set up a post office
• created a continental army led by George Washington
• sent Olive Branch asking kind to protectr their rights
• King hired 30,000 Hessians soldiers in response

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

• Fought on Breed's hill
• "Dont fire until you see the whites of their eyess" -BRITISH victory, (Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy.

Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

Jul 15, 1775

• realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
• need weapons

"Common Sense" pub. by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

• pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
• "Everything that is right or reasonable pleds for separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART"- Thomas Paine, Common Sense

British Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

• Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive.
• Washington put cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
• BRITISH retreat- AMERICAN victory

second continental congress meet again

Jun 15, 1776

• Debate on declaring independence
• Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

second continental congress votes for independence

Jul 2, 1776

The Declaration of Independence is signed

Jul 4, 1776