Road to Revolution 5.3- 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

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 & Concord

Apr 19, 1775

• The 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

May 10, 1775

• Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
• Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
• 2nd AMERICAN Victory

Second Continental Congress met

May 10, 1775

• Print $$$$
• Set up a 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 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

the Declaration of Independence is signed!

Jul 4, 1776