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As the Congress met in Philadelphia, the "Green Mountain Boys" captured Fort Ticonderoga 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 "Green Mountain Boys" captured Fort Ticonderoga 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.)  

In January of 1776 [[Thomas Paine]]'s pamphlet called [[Common Sense]] argued against divine rule and economic reasons to stay with Britain, in plain language.  Often written books or pamphlets were a bigger force than military battles, and this was overwhelming true in this case.  Nearly every literate adult read Common Sense, and Paine's argument gave countless colonists the courage to realize that separation from Britain was necessary and attainable.  After only three months, 120,000 copies had been sold!

In January of 1776 [[Thomas Paine]]'s pamphlet called [[Common Sense]] argued against divine rule and economic reasons to stay with Britain, in plain language.  Often written books or pamphlets were a bigger force than military battles, and this was overwhelmingly true in this case.  Nearly every literate adult read Common Sense, and Paine's argument gave countless colonists the courage to realize that separation from Britain was necessary and attainable.  After only three months, 120,000 copies had been sold!

Here are some of Paine's words against divine rule: "The heathens paid divine honors to their deceased kings, and the Christian world had improved on the plan by doing the same to their living ones.  How impious is the title of sacred majesty applied to a worm, who in the midst of his splendor is crumbling into dust!"

Here are some of Paine's words against divine rule: "The heathens paid divine honors to their deceased kings, and the Christian world had improved on the plan by doing the same to their living ones.  How impious is the title of sacred majesty applied to a worm, who in the midst of his splendor is crumbling into dust!"

In May 1781, the French arrived with two fleets, and trapped the British at Yorktown, Virginia.  They were forced to surrender their entire army of 8,000.  But the British still held New York, and did not finally sign a peace treaty until February 1783.   

In May 1781, the French arrived with two fleets, and trapped the British at Yorktown, Virginia.  They were forced to surrender their entire army of 8,000.  But the British still held New York, and did not finally sign a peace treaty until February 1783.   

The treaty ending the American Revolution was the Treaty of Paris.  The British gave up their claim to land east of the Mississippi, from Canada to Florida.  The Americans promised to treat fairly the Loyalists (colonists loyal to the King) and English creditors (people owed money by colonists) fairly.  Some people on both sides refused to abide by the treaty.  In Gladstone, New Jersey, the "Union Jack" (British flag) can be seen prominently flown to this day on one residential lot (along with the American flag).  Nevertheless, the war was finally over, and the citizens of the thirteen colonies were no longer called colonists, but Americans.

The treaty ending the American Revolution was the Treaty of Paris.  The British gave up their claim to land east of the Mississippi, from Canada to Florida.  The Americans promised to treat the Loyalists (colonists loyal to the King) and English creditors (people owed money by colonists) fairly.  Some people on both sides refused to abide by the treaty.  In Gladstone, New Jersey, the "Union Jack" (British flag) can be seen prominently flown to this day on one residential lot (along with the American flag).  Nevertheless, the war was finally over, and the citizens of the thirteen colonies were no longer called colonists, but Americans.

== References ==

== References ==