-
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 -
Battle of Lexington
- First battle of an american revolutionary war
- "shots heard all around the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
- British victory
- Battle of concord
- Americans retreat the British and retreat back to Boston American victory
-
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 soldiers to fight British -
Battle of bunker hill
Fought on Breed's hill
Don't fight till you see the whites of their eyes
British victory -
Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with continental troops
Realizes men were 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 nature cries, 'TIS TIME TO PART"- Thomas Paine -
British surrender Boston
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
debate on declaring independence
Thomas Jefferson is the Primary author of the document -
second continental progress votes for independence
-
The declaration of independence is signed