Road to Revolution

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 colonist to unite against Britain

1,000's 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 American Revolutionary War
• "Shot heard round the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• BRITISH VICTORY
• Battle of Concord
• Americans stop the 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
• Got all the supplies in the fort including cannons
• AMERICAN VICTORY

Second Continental Congress meet

May 10, 1775

• Print $$$$
• Set up own post office
• Created Continental Army led by George Washington
• Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights

- King hires 30,000 Hessians Soldiers in response

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

• 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 so easy.

Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

Jul 15, 1775

• Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
• Need weapons

"Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

• 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

British Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

• Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive
• Washington puts 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

• Votes for Independence

The Declaration of Independence is signed

Jul 4, 1776