The document summarizes key events during the lead up to American independence, including the Second Continental Congress forming an army under George Washington, the British passing the Prohibitory Act to cut off trade, and Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys capturing Fort Ticonderoga without firing a shot. It also discusses the Battles of Bunker Hill where the British attacked three times before the Americans ran out of ammunition and retreated, after which Britain hired Hessian mercenaries to aid their war effort. Finally, it mentions Henry Knox hauling cannons from Fort Ticonderoga to use against the British in Boston, forcing their retreat from the city.

1. American Independence

2. • Green Mountain Boys
• Common Sense
• Hessians
• Loyalists
• Patriots

3. Second Continental Congress
• Americans didn’t want to break from Britain
• Wrote the Olive Branch Petition to King
George III
• The petition asked for English Rights
• The King didn’t even read it!
• The king ordered more troops to America
• George Washington was named commander
of the Continental Army

4. King George III

5. Prohibitory Act
• Passed by Parliament
• Cut off all British trade to the colonies and
they wouldn’t protect them anymore

6. • Ethan Allen led the Green Mountain Boys to
capture British Fort Ticonderoga.
• Green Mountain Boys – unit raised to protect
New Hampshire
• Benedict Arnold was headed out to do the
same thing
• Both served as commanders and took Fort
Ticonderoga without firing a single shot

9. Fort Ticonderoga

10. Ethan Allan calling for surrender

11. • General Gage and the Americans had control
of Bunker Hill outside of Boston
• William Howe and 3,000 British attacked the
hill THREE TIMES
• The Americans ran out of ammunition on the
third try and retreated.

15. • After Bunker Hill,
Britain hired Hessians
to help with the war
effort.
• They were German
hired soldiers called
mercenaries

16. • Colonel Henry Knox hauled the cannons from
Fort Ticonderoga to Dorchester Heights
outside of Boston.
• The Americans had the high ground and the
British left Boston.

17. Henry Knox

18. Henry Knox arriving with cannon