Road to Independence

First Continental Congress meets

Sep 5, 1774

• 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

1000s of Redcoats in Britain

Apr 1, 1775

• General Gage brings many British troops to Boston with more on the way.

Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

Apr 18, 1775

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

Apr 19, 1775

• Battle of Lexington
  • 1st official 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

Second Continental Congress Meet

May 10, 1775

• 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

Capture of Fort Ticonderoga

May 10, 1775

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

Battle of Bunker Hill

Jun 16, 1775

• fought on Breed's Hill
• "Don't fire until you can 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

Jul 15, 1775

• Realizes men are disorganized need discipline
• Need weapons

"Common Sense" Published by Thomas Paine

Jan 10, 1776

• 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

Mar 17, 1776

• Washington believes his army is ready weapons arrive
• Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston
• British retreat - American victory

Second Continental Congress Meets Again

Jun 15, 1776

• Debate on declaring independence
• Thomas Jefferson is the primary author of the document

Second Continental Congress Votes for Independence

Jul 2, 1776

• All 13 colonies voted YES on declaring independence

The Declaration of Independence is Signed!

Jul 4, 1776

fireworks