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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 -
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 & Concord
*Battle of Lexington -
- 1st battle of American Revolutionary War
- "shot 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 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." -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 independence
*Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress vote for Independence
*All 13 colonies vote YES for declaring independence -
The Declaration of Independence is signed!