2.  General Gage had a plan…  Use British soldiers stationed in Boston  Go to Lexington to capture John Hancock and Samuel Adams  Go to Concord to seize gunpowder But the Americans had a plan of their own…

3.  Spies and Friends of the Americans leaked word of Gage’s plans.  Two lanterns hanging from Boston's North Church informed the countryside that the British were going to attack by sea.  A series of horseback riders — men such as Paul Revere, William Dawes and Dr. Samuel Prescott— galloped off to warn the countryside that the REGULARS (British troops) were coming!

4.  Colonial Militias assemble throughout Massachusetts after learning British plans  The militias confronted the British troops of the Lexington Green  Both sides did not know what to expect. Suddenly, a bullet buzzed through the morning air.  It was "the shot heard round the world."

5.  In modern day Vermont, led a group called the Green Mountain Boys to capture Ft. Ticonderoga.  Cannons  Allen + Benedict Arnold took over the fort on May 10, 1775.

6.  Two day battle  Americans occupied “Breed’s Hill” in order to protect the nearby Boston Shipyard  British ended up taking the Hill but suffered heavy losses

7.  The Americans fired until they were out of ammunition, then quickly retreated.  To conserve ammunition, American leader Colonel Prescott told his men, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!"

8.  The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia after Lexington and Concord.  The delegates discussed…  Creating a Continental Army  Sending the Olive Branch Petition  Approving the Declaration of Independence  Choosing George Washington to be commander-in-chief

9.  Main author was Thomas Jefferson and was authorized by Second Continental Congress  3 Main Parts  Statement of Intent: The Basic Principles  List of Grievances: Why the colonists wanted independence  Removes ties with Britain

11.  June 1777 when British General John Burgoyne began moving south from the British province of Quebec to gain control of the Hudson River valley.  His plan was to split the eastern New England colonies from the southern colonies.  Burgoyne had the Continental Army, under General Philip Schuyler, in retreat.  In response, General Washington assigned General Horatio Gates to take command of the Continental Army from General Schuyler. Additional troops were also sent to support General Gates.

12.  When Burgoyne marched into the Hudson River Valley, he met the Continental Army just north of Saratoga.  The Continental Army was forced to retreat.  Although the British had won the initial battle, it was with a significant casualties, both in infantry and artillery men.

13.  Burgoyne mounted an attack on Bemis Hill.  The Americans successfully defended the hill and Burgoyne lost many soldiers.  The American troops counter attacked forcing the British to retreat.  Burgoyne's army was now surrounded by the Continental Army. He had lost 1,000 men, and was running low on supplies.  British General Burgoyne was forced to surrender.

15.  The year 1781 found a large squadron of British troops led by Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia.  A French naval unit led by Admiral de Grasse headed north from the West Indies.  Washington's army was stationed near New York City at the time.  Along with a French unit from Rhode Island, Washington's troops marched over 300 miles south toward Yorktown.

16.  Americans led by Lafayette joined in the siege.\  The French navy kept the British out of Chesapeake Bay until Cornwallis was forced to surrender his entire unit of nearly 8,000 troops on October 19, 1781.  The capture of the troops severely hampered the British war effort

17.  The Battle of Yorktown turned the British public against the war.  The following March, a pro-American Parliament was elected and peace negotiations began in earnest.  Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay met with the British in the hopes of securing a peace treaty.