Road to Independence

  • First Continental Congress meets

    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- Virginia representative. urged colonists to unite against Britain
  • 1000's of Redcoats in Boston

    1000'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 & Concord

    Battles of Lexington & Concord

    -Battles of Lexington
    -1st battle of the American Revolutionary War
    -"Shot heard around the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
    -BRITISH VICTORY
    -Battle of Concord
    -Americans stop British and force them to retreat back to Boston
    -AMERICAN VICTORY
  • The Second Continental Congress meet

    The Second Continental Congress meet

    -They Printed Money$$$$$
    -Set up a post office
    -Created the Continental Army led by George Washington
    -Sent Olive Branch petition asking King to protect their rights
    -King hires 30,000 Hessian soldiers in response
  • 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
  • Washington arrives on outskirts of Boston with the Continental Army

    -Realizes men are disorganized need discipline -Needs weapons
  • 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.
  • "Common Sense" Published by Thomas Paine

    -pamphlet inspires more colonists to become patriots
    -"Every thing that is right ore 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