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Continetal Congress meets
- All colonies but Georgia gave representatives
- voted to send a " statement of grievances"
- Voted to Boycott all British Trade
- Patrick Henry- Va rep/ urged colonists to unite against Britain.
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1,000's of Redcoats in Boston
- General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way
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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."
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Battles of Lexington & Concord
- Battle of Lexington - 1st battle of American Revolutionary War " shot heard around the world" - Ralph Waldo Emerson British Victory
- Battle of Concord - Americans Stop British and force them to retreat back Boston American Victory
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Capture of Fort Ticonderoga
- Benedict Arnold & Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in fort including cannons
- AMERICA Victory
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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 Hessians Soldiers in response
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Battle of Bunker Hill
- fought on Breed's Hill
- "Don't Fire until you see the whites of their eyes". William Prescott
- BRITSH Victory ( Americans ran out of ammunition) British team defeating American would NOT be easy.
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Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops
- Realizes men are disorganized & need discipline
- Need weapons
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" Common Sense " published by Thomas Paine
- pamphlet inspires more colonies to become patriots
- "Everything that is right or reasonable pleads for separation. The blood of the slain, the wearing voice of nature cries. " TIS TIME TO PART" -Thomas Paine, Common Sense
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British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready & weapons arrive -Washington puts his cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
- BRITISH retreat -- AMERICAN Victory
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Second Continental Congress meet again
- Debate on declaring independence
- Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
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Second Continental Congress votes for independence
-They voted yes -
The Declaration of Independence
