Road to Independence

  • Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

    Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

    Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
    Need weapons
  • First Continental Congress meets

    First Continental Congress meets

    All colonies but Georgia have representatives. Voted to send a "statement of grievances" (a 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

    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

    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 and Concord

    Battles of Lexington and Concord

    Battle of Lexington- 1st battle of 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

    Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

    Benedict Arnold Ethan Allen capture the fort. Get all supplies in the fort including cannons. AMERICA Victory
  • Second Continental Congress meet

    Second Continental Congress meet

    Print money
    Set up post office
    Created Continental Army led by George Washington
    Sent Olive Branch asking King to protect their rights-King hires 30,000 Hessian's Soldier in response
  • Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with Continental troops

    Realizes men are 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, Common Sense
  • 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