250th Anniversary - Putnam County, TN

Putnam 250th Anniversary Committee:

Carol Teeter
Chelsea # # #
Rafferty Cleary
Mark Dudney
Kathy Dunn
Harvey McNeal
Roy Phipps
Pam Philpot
Dr. Chris Winningham

Events from Paul Revere's Ride to the Declaration of Indepence. April 18–19, 1775 – Paul Revere’s Ride
Paul Revere and other riders warn colonial militias that British troops are advancing
toward Lexington and Concord. April 19, 1775 – Batt

les of Lexington and Concord
The first military engagements between British forces and colonial militia; the fighting
marks the outbreak of armed conflict. May 10, 1775 – Second Continental Congress Convenes
Delegates meet in Philadelphia to manage the colonial response to war and coordinate
resistance. June 14, 1775 – Continental Army Established
The Congress forms a unified colonial army. June 15, 1775 – George Washington Appointed Commander-in-Chief
Washington is chosen to lead the Continental Army. June 17, 1775 – Battle of Bunker Hill
British forces win the battle but suffer heavy casualties, demonstrating that colonial
forces can stand against professional troops. July 5, 1775 – Olive Branch Petition
The colonies make a final attempt to reconcile with King George III, which is rejected. January 1776 – Publication of Common Sense
Thomas Paine’s pamphlet argues for complete independence and sways public opinion. American General Henry Knox arrived in Boston with cannons he had moved with great difficulty from Fort Ticonderoga, New York. Americans began to entrench themselves around Boston, planning to attack the British. British General William Howe planned an attack, but eventually retreated from Boston May 1776 - Congress Calls for the Colonies to Adopt New Constitutions. The Second Continental Congress recommended that the colonies establish new governments based on the authority of the people of the respective colonies rather than on the British Crown. July 4, 1776 - Congress Declares Independence. When North Carolina and Virginia empowered their delegates to vote for American independence, Virginian Richard Henry Lee offered a resolution stating that the colonies "are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States." A committee was appointed to draft a declaration of independence, and Thomas Jefferson was chosen to write it. On July 2, Congress voted in favor of independence, and on July 4, the Declaration of Independence was approved. Copies were sent throughout the colonies to be read publicly.