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First 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 and Concord
Battle of Lexington-
- 1st battle of American Revolutionary War
- "shot and heard around 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 Allan capture the fort
Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
AMERICAN history -
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's Soldiers in response -
Hington Arrives on Outskirts of Congress with Continental troops
Realizes men are disorganized and 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 natures cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART" - Thomas Paine, 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
All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence -
The Declaration for Independence is signed!
