King George: What Was His Problem?

Nonfiction | Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2005

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 5-6

Chapters 7-8

Chapter 9

Key Figures

Themes

Index of Terms

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

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Discussion Questions

Chapters 3-4Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapter 3 Summary: “Who Fired the Shot Heard ‘Round the World?’”

As John Adams and John Hancock fled Lexington, gunfire echoed behind them, marking the onset of conflict. British troops at Lexington were unexpectedly met by Patriot militia forces, a diverse group including at least eight father-son pairs and one African American man. Despite orders from both sides to hold fire, escalating tensions culminated in the fateful “shot heard around the world,” sparking the American Revolution.

The confrontation at Lexington lasted 10 minutes, claiming the lives of eight American militiamen without any British casualties. Colonel Francis Smith allowed his troops a moment of celebration before marching toward Concord. There, approximately 400 minutemen, forewarned by Samuel Prescott and having concealed their artillery, awaited the British. As the British approached the North Bridge, the American militia descended from the hills, leading to another clash with casualties on both sides. As the British retreated from Concord, they fell into an ambush at Meriam’s Corner, where American minutemen utilized guerrilla tactics from behind trees and stone walls. This assault inflicted significant losses upon the British—73 soldiers were killed and many more were injured. Among those lost on the American side was Josiah Haynes, a 79-year-old minuteman.

The events of that day reverberated through the colonies, rallying approximately 20,000 minutemen by the end of April, effectively trapping the British forces in Boston. King George III, incensed by the defiance of the American colonies, demanded their submission.

Chapter 4 Summary: “George Washington, Meet Your Army”

In May 1775, Connecticut lawyer Noah Phelps disguised himself as a ragged peddler to infiltrate Fort Ticonderoga in New York, then under British control. Pretending to seek a shave, Phelps entered the fort and secretly gauged its vulnerability, finding it poorly defended. He reported this to the Green Mountain Boys, Vermont’s Patriot militia led by Ethan Allen. On May 10, Allen and his 80 men surprised and captured the fort, finding 90 gallons of rum to celebrate their win for three days, along with seizing 100 British cannons.

Despite the victory, the Continental Congress was not entirely pleased, still hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflicts with Britain. Yet, Samuel and John Adams saw no compromise with King George III. Seeking to foster unity across the colonies, they proposed selecting a leader from Virginia, the largest of the southern colonies, to symbolize collective resistance. John Hancock anticipated he might be chosen due to his prominence. However, his lack of military experience made him an unsuitable candidate for commanding the army. Instead, John Adams suggested George Washington for the role, citing his military expertise and leadership qualities. This decision strained the friendship between Hancock and Adams, as Hancock had hoped for the honor and recognition that the leadership position would bring.

In June 1775, as the British forces remained besieged in Boston by American militia, a fresh team of British generals devised a strategy to seize control of Breed’s Hill and Bunker Hill, two strategic locations overlooking the city. American forces, anticipating this move, quickly fortified Breed’s Hill. The British, facing intense American gunfire, initially retreated but persisted, ultimately capturing Breed’s Hill after heavy losses of nearly 1,000 men. Despite occurring mainly on Breed’s Hill, the encounter is famously misnamed the Battle of Bunker Hill.

General George Washington faced challenges with his inexperienced army, including a snowball fight between Massachusetts and Virginia soldiers escalating into a brawl. Meanwhile, in Boston, British soldiers, weary from the siege, mockingly caricatured Americans in plays.

A turning point occurred on March 3, 1776, when British General William Howe, who had succeeded General Gage, saw cannons positioned by Washington on heights overlooking Boston. These were the same cannons seized by Ethan Allen at Fort Ticonderoga. Realizing the strategic disadvantage, Howe ordered the evacuation of British troops on March 17, 1776, a significant American victory. Washington relayed the news of this triumph to John Hancock, also assuring him that his Boston residence had remained undamaged amidst the conflict.

Chapters 3-4 Analysis

The actions of Samuel Prescott and Noah Phelps exemplify the theme The Impact of Individuals on Historical Events. Prescott’s warning to the minutemen about the British advance allowed American forces to strategically prepare and hide their artillery at Concord, shaping the battle’s outcome. Similarly, Phelps demonstrated individual creativity and courage by infiltrating Fort Ticonderoga disguised as a peddler. His identification of the fort’s vulnerabilities facilitated its capture by Ethan Allen’s forces. These instances of personal bravery and cleverness are a small fraction of the many creative endeavors by colonists during the American Revolution done in the name of independence.

In contrast, King George III’s insistence on submission from the American colonies after Lexington and Concord reflects a leadership style rooted in absolute monarchical power and the belief in the divine right of kings. His commitment to the authority of the British crown illustrates how an individual’s principles and unique personality can influence historical developments. King George’s refusal to negotiate with the colonies worsened tensions, showcasing the consequences of his inflexibility. Moreover, this thematically illustrates The Challenges of Leadership and Governance, seen on both sides of the war in each nation’s leaders. His stubbornness prolonged the conflict, reshaping Britain’s relationship with its colonies and ultimately leading to the birth of a new nation. Thus, King George represents the dangers of clinging to outdated ideals and demonstrates how inflexibility can drive major geopolitical changes.

The Adams cousins, Samuel and John, keenly recognized King George’s inflexibility. Understanding the king’s rigid stance, they advocated for a unified colonial response, based on a pragmatic assessment of the likelihood of compromise. This strategic move played a pivotal role in rallying the colonies against British authority. Informed by their realistic analysis of the king’s character and the political context, their actions precipitated a shift in the collective American consciousness, laying the groundwork for revolution. Similarly, John Adams’s decision to select George Washington to lead the Continental Army served as a calculated effort to unite the colonies, particularly by bridging regional divides with a Virginian leader. Spearheaded by Adams, this choice prioritized military expertise over personal connections, featuring the central theme of the complexities associated with leadership and governance. However, Adams’s preference for Washington over John Hancock strained their relationship, revealing the challenges faced in balancing personal dynamics with strategic imperatives.

George Washington encountered challenges in his early leadership during the American Revolution, including shortages of food, uniforms, and ammunition, compounded by internal conflicts among his troops. Uniting an army with diverse backgrounds and loyalties emphasized the complexities of leadership. A snowball fight escalating into a brawl between soldiers from Massachusetts and Virginia reveals the regional differences and lack of discipline within the colonial forces, symptomatic of broader challenges in establishing military cohesion. Washington responded to these obstacles by fostering a shared purpose to the cause of independence.

Amidst Washington’s efforts to unite a diverse army, The Unconventional Stories of the American Revolution gain prominence. Chapter 4 reveals the diversity of the Continental Army; men of all ages engaged in the fight for freedom, including a nearly 80-year-old Josiah Haynes who died at Concord, and four father-son pairings. The chapter also discusses the Battle of Bunker Hill’s misnomer, fought on Breed’s Hill, which has become a symbol of American perseverance. Additionally, it mentions Washington’s transport of the Fort Ticonderoga’s cannons to Boston using sleds and oxen, reflecting the American forces’ ingenuity and tenacity in the quest for independence.