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First Continental Congress meets
Leaders from all of the colonies except Georgia came to the meeting. They voted to send a "statement of grievances" and they 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 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 -
Second Continental Congress meet
-Print $$$$
-Set up a 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
-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
-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 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 -
Second Continental Congress votes for Independence
-All 13 colonies vote YES on declaring independence -
The Declaration of Independence is signed!
