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 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

~Battle of Lexington-
1st battle of American Revolutionary
"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
~AMERICANS Victory

Second Continental Congress Meet

May 10, 1775

~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 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 & need discipline
~Need weapons

"Common Sense" Published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

~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 Pain, Common Sense

British Surrender Boston

Mar 17, 1776

~Washington believes his army is ready & 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

The Declaration of Independence is signed!

Jul 4, 1776

Second Continental Congress votes for Independence

Jul 20, 1776