Fighting Begins in the North

FIGHTING BEGINS IN THE NORTH

Mr. Stetler8th Grade Social Studies

Davidson, James W. The American Nation. Houghtin-Mifflin, Needham Mass. 168-170

SETTING THE SCENE

News of the fighting at Lexington and Concord spread like wildfire. Riders galloped off carrying messages, and those riders were urged to “ride day and night.”

Within a few days, between 10,000 and 15,000 militia rushed to Boston. They surrounded the city and the British troops stationed there.

The sudden arrival of rebellious colonists was a clear sign that the fight between Britain and its American colonies was about to blaze into war. Still, many colonists hoped for a peaceful solution.

PEACE OR WAR? Just a few weeks after the battles at Lexington and

Concord colonial delegates met at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

After much debate, the delegates agreed to send a petition to King George. This petition, known as the “Olive Branch Petition” declared American loyalty to the king and asked him to repeal the Intolerable Acts.

George III was furious when he heard about the petition. He vowed to bring the rebels to justice, and sent 20,000 more troops to America to crush the revolt.

Congress did not learn of the king’s response until months later, but some colonists always felt the war was unavoidable.

REBELS TAKE TICONDEROGA Ethan Allen, a Vermont blacksmith, did not wait

for Congress to act. Allen decided to lead a band of Vermonters, known as the “Green Mountain Boys” in a surprise attack on Fort Ticonderoga, located at the southern tip of Lake Champlain.

Allen knew the fort held cannons that the colonists could use.

In early May, the Green Mountain Boys crept quietly through the morning mist to quickly overpower the guard on duty and enter the fort. Allen rushed to the room where the British commander was sleeping.

Allen proclaimed that he was acting under the authority of the Continental Congress.

The British commander surrendered Ticonderoga to Allen. With the fort, the Green Mountain Boys won a valuable supply of cannons and gun powder. This also gave the Americans a key route to Canada.

In the meantime, the Second Continental congress had to decide what to do about the makeshift army gathering around Boston. They took the bold step of creating the Continental Army and appointed George Washington of Virginia as their commander.

ADVANTAGES OF OPPOSING SIDES

At the beginning of the war America was divided. 1/3 of the colonists considered themselves “Patriots,” 1/3 were “Tories,” and 1/3 were neutral.

The Patriots entered the war with many disadvantages. Colonial forces were unorganized and untrained. They had few cannons, little gunpowder, and no navy. Also, few colonists were willing to enlist in the Continental Army for long terms of service.

Many preferred to fight near home as part of local militias.

The Patriots also had advantages. Many Patriots owned rifles and were good shots. Their leader George Washington developed into a brilliant commander. The colonists were also motivated by the fact that they were fighting to defend their homes and property.

The British were a powerful foe. They had highly trained, experienced troops. Their navy was the best in the world, and many colonists supported their cause.

Still, Britain faced problems. Its armies were 3,000 miles from home. Also, news and supplies took months to travel from Britain to America.

American colonists who remained loyal to Britain included many wealthy merchants and former officials of the royal government. However, some farmers and craft workers were also loyalists. There were more loyalists in the Middle Colonies and the South than in New England.

Loyalists faced hard times during the war and Patriots tarred and feathered people known to favor the British. Many loyalists fled to England or Canada. While they were gone their homes, stores, and farms were taken by the rebels for their use, or destroyed completely.