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First 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
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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. -
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 the 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
- Benedict Arnold Ethan Allen capture the fort
- Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
- AMERICAN 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 the 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
- BRITISH Victory (Americans ran out of ammunition) British learn defeating Americans would NOT be easy
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Washington Arrives on the Outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops
- Realizes men are disorganized need discipline
- Needs weapons
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"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, Common Sense
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British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready weapons arrive
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
- BRITISH retreat- AMERICAN Victory
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Second Continental Congress Meets Again
- Debate on declaring independence
- Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document
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Second Continental Congress Votes for Independence
- All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence
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The Declaration of Independence is Signed!
