-
Washington Arrives on Outskirts of Boston with Continental Troops
- Realizes men are disorganized and need discipline
- Need weapons
-
First Contineltal 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 British
-
1000's of Red Coats in Boston
*many towns start to arm themselves
*British soldiers start coming to Boston
*There becomes 1 British solider for every five person in Boston
*General Gage brings thousands of British soldiers to Boston with more on the way -
Midnight Ride of Paul Revere
*Soldiers go on a secret mission during the night
*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 in the revolutionary war, "shot heard around the world" -Ralph Waldo Emerson, BRITISH victory *Battle of Concord- Americans stop British and force them the 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 Meets
- Appoints George Washington to be general
- print money
- set up post office
- sent an 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 Map
"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 *"Everything 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
-
Second 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 in declaring independence -
The Declaration of independence is Signed!
-
British Surrender Boston
- Washington believes his army is ready and weapons arrive
- Washington puts cannons on Dorchester Heights overlooking Boston *BRITISH retreat- AMERICAN victory