Road to Independence

By stu.kreskec1

  • 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.

  • 1,000's of Redcoats in Boston

    • General Gage brings thousands of Britosh 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 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

    • Benedict Arnold and Ethan Allen capture the fort
    • Get all supplies in the fort including cannons
    • American victory

  • 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 soldiers in response

  • Battle of Bunker Hill

    • Fought on Breed's Hill
    • "Don't Fire until you see the whites of their eyes" - William Prescott
    • British victory

  • 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 Surrenders 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 meets again

    • Debate on declaring independence
    • Thomas 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