Changes

On April 19, 1775, the British commander in charge of America, General [[Thomas Gage]], responded to orders from England to forcibly stop the rebellion.  He sent troops to march by surprise from Boston to Concord to seize a storehouse of rebel guns and ammunition, and perhaps arrest some leaders.

On April 19, 1775, the British commander in charge of America, General [[Thomas Gage]], responded to orders from England to forcibly stop the rebellion.  He sent troops to march by surprise from Boston to Concord to seize a storehouse of rebel guns and ammunition, and perhaps arrest some leaders.

===War Begins===

===War Begins===

[[Paul Revere]] then went on his famous midnight ride to alert the colonists.  They were ready.  After years of conflict, war finally began.  At Lexington, just 75 colonists faced several hundred British soldiers.  When the British ordered the colonists to disperse, gunfire broke out.  Eight colonists were killed and ten were wounded in the ensuing chaos.  But 73 British died.

[[Paul Revere]] then went on his famous midnight ride to alert the colonists.  They were ready.  After years of conflict, war finally began.  At Lexington, just 75 colonists faced several hundred British soldiers.  Many of the armed colonists were clergyman, and most of the rest were from church congregations.  When the British ordered the colonists to disperse, gunfire broke out.  Eight colonists were killed and ten were wounded in the ensuing chaos.  But 73 British died.

In 1860, which was 85 years later, the abolitionist American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote about the midnight ride of Paul Revere, which immortalized this beginning to the Revolutionary War:

In 1860, which was 85 years later, the abolitionist American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote about the midnight ride of Paul Revere, which immortalized this beginning to the Revolutionary War:

<br>Ready to ride and spread the alarm

<br>Ready to ride and spread the alarm

<br>Through every Middlesex village and farm,

<br>Through every Middlesex village and farm,

<br>For the country folk to be up and to arm.’<ref>https://www.bartleby.com/42/789.html</ref>}}

<br>For the country folk to be up and to arm.’ ...<ref>https://www.bartleby.com/42/789.html</ref>}}

The British troops continued to Concord.  Here a larger number of colonists attacked them and routed them back to Lexington.  Only 93 colonists died in comparison to 275 British soldiers.  The British were narrowly saved by the arrival of reinforcements.

The British troops continued to Concord.  Here a larger number of colonists, again mostly clergymen and churchgoers, attacked them and routed them back to Lexington.  Only 93 colonists died in comparison to 275 British soldiers.  The British were narrowly saved by the arrival of reinforcements.

That and other conflicts brought the colonies together in 1775 for the [[Second Continental Congress]].  They realized that hope for peace was foolish now.  It was time to prepare for war.  The Congress instituted paper money and named George Washington head of [[Continental Army]], which he then led throughout the Revolution.  As a last attempt for peace, they sent the "Olive Branch Petition" (written by Charles Townshend) to the King.  He refused even to receive the petition.  War was inevitable.

That and other conflicts brought the colonies together in 1775 for the [[Second Continental Congress]].  They realized that hope for peace was foolish now.  It was time to prepare for war.  The Congress instituted paper money and named George Washington head of [[Continental Army]], which he then led throughout the Revolution.  As a last attempt for peace, they sent the "Olive Branch Petition" (written by Charles Townshend) to the King.  He refused even to receive the petition.  War was inevitable.

As the Congress met in Philadelphia, the colonial "Green Mountain Boys" captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775 because Ethan Allen wanted to protect his land holdings in a disputed area near Lake Champlain.  (Lake Champlain is located in the far north of Vermont, which was not a colony then.)  

As the Congress met in Philadelphia, the colonial "Green Mountain Boys" captured Fort Ticonderoga from the British in 1775 because Ethan Allen wanted to protect his land holdings in a disputed area near Lake Champlain.  (Lake Champlain is located in the far north of Vermont, which was not a colony then.)

 

==="Common Sense"===

==="Common Sense"===

In January of 1776, [[Thomas Paine]]'s published a pamphlet called ''[[Common Sense]]'', which argued against divine rule and economic reasons to stay with Britain, in plain language.  Paine's book and ideas worked the colonists into a frenzy, and gave them the courage to realize that separation from Britain was necessary and attainable.  After only three months, 120,000 copies had been sold, which was equivalent to about 5% of the total population!  Today a bestselling book has sales of 30,000 out of a population of 300 million (only 0.01%).  '''''Thomas Paine's pamphlet ''Common Sense'' sold 500 times as much as a bestseller today, when measured as a percentage of the population'''''.  And many more read borrowed copies, or heard speeches that quoted from the book.

In January of 1776, [[Thomas Paine]]'s published a pamphlet called ''[[Common Sense]]'', which argued against divine rule and economic reasons to stay with Britain, in plain language.  Paine's book and ideas worked the colonists into a frenzy, and gave them the courage to realize that separation from Britain was necessary and attainable.  After only three months, 120,000 copies had been sold, which was equivalent to about 5% of the total population!  Today a bestselling book has sales of 30,000 out of a population of 300 million (only 0.01%).  '''''Thomas Paine's pamphlet ''Common Sense'' sold 500 times as much as a bestseller today, when measured as a percentage of the population'''''.  And many more read borrowed copies, or heard speeches that quoted from the book.