Road to Independence

  • First Continental Congress

    All colonies but Georgia have representatives.
    voted to send a "statement of grievances"/list of complaints
    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 & Concord

    Battle of Lexington - 1st battle of American Revolutionary War - 'shot heard round the whole", 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

    Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

    Benedict Arnold 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 Hessians Soldiers in response
  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    Battle of Bunker Hill

    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

    -Realizes men are disorganized need discipline
    - Needs Weapons
  • "Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

    "Common Sense" published by Thomas Paine

    -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

    -Washington believes his army is ready Weapons arrive
    -Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
    -BRITS retreat - AMERICAN Victory
  • Second Continental Congress meets again

    -Debate on declaring independence
    -Tomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
  • Second Continental Congress votes for Independence

    -All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence
  • The Declaration of Independence is signed!

    FIREWORKS!!!!!