It wasn't that the colonists just didn't like being ruled by a king. In fact, most of them still considered themselves citizens of
Great Britain. However, it soon became clear to the colonists that Great Britain didn't really see them like that. The French and Indian
War cost England quite a bit, and many believed that the Colonies should pay for a good chunk of this debt. The British Parliament
began passing law after law, mainly tax laws, affecting the Colonies, but the colonists did not have any say in these taxes. Beginning
with the Sugar
Act in 1764 and ending with the Coercive Acts, King George and Parliament were flexing their political and economic
muscle. Force entered the picture with the skirmishes at Concord and Lexington in 1775, and by 1776, we had declared our independence
Diplomacy Attempted
After numerous boycotts and protests, the Second Continental Congress tried one last time to appeal to King George III.
They sent a petitiondrafted imploring the king to listen to the colonies grievances and declare a cease-fire. It reached him in
August of 1775.The document
pledged loyalty to the king and tried to reason with him in order to stop more bloodshed. Not only did King George never read
the petition, he didn't even acknowledge the Second Continental Congress existed. Main Events
Ralph Waldo Emerson called it "the shot heard 'round the world." in his Concord's Hymn of 1837. This signaled an event of world
importance. It was the beginning of a new nation, and the defeat of a global powerhouse. In April of 1775, about 700 British Army ordered the
regulars were ordered to Lexington to capture military supplies stored by the colonists. The colonists had early warning and were able to
move the supplies. The militia engaged the British, but being outnumbered, they had to withdraw. The British marched on to Concord, but this
time over 500 minutemen were waiting on them. The British were routed and had to finally regroup with reinforcements before heading on
to Boston. The patriots were to learn that they faced a long road ahead to freedom. |
