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Continental Congress meets
• All colonies but Georgia have representatives.
• Voted to send a "statements of grievances"
• Voted to Boycott 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. -
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 and Concord
• Battles of Lexington -
— 1st battle of American Revolutionary War.
— "shot heard around the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
•BRITISH Victory
— Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston. -
Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
•Benedict Arnold and 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 -
British Surrender Boston
•Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive
• Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
• BRITISH retreat — AMERICAN Victory -
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 and need discipline
• Need weapons -
"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine
•Pamphlet inspires more colonist to become patriots
• "Every thing is right or reasonable pleads separation. The blood of the slain, the weeping voice of nature cries, "TIS TIME TO PART" —"Thomas Pain, Common Sense" -
Second Continental Congress meet again
• Debate on declaring independence
• Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document -
Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
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The Declaration of Independence is signed!
