A series of events took place in June 1775 that changed the course of American history.

Following the bloodshed in April at Lexington and Concord, the British army found itself surrounded in Boston by thousands of local New England militia. In May, representatives from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia for in the Second Continental Congress without any real instructions. Letters were sent to Georgia and Canada asking them to join in the congress, but little else was accomplished.

British General Thomas Gage wrote to King George III from Boston on June 12: “The situation these wretches have taken…