The Green Mountain Boys
How did the Green Mountain Boys help Vermont become Vermont?
Ethan Allen owned land in the New Hampshire Grants. He did not want to lose his land to the Yorkers(owners who got their land from New York). He also did not want to pay more money for his land. Other settlers felt the same way. After talking at the Catamount Tavern(an inn where men could get food and drinks) in Bennington, these men joined together to start the Green Mountain Boys.
The Green Mountain Boys wanted to scare the Yorkers and chase them away. When Dr. Samuel Adams tried to defend the Yorkers, he made the Green Mountain Boys angry. Even though Adams owned land in the New Hampshire Grants, the Green Mountain Boys put him on trial at the Catamount Tavern. They decided he was guilty. To punish him, they tied a chair to the tavern's sign and made him sit in the chair for hours. The tavern was a popular place in Bennington. The supporters of the Grants probably yelled at Dr. Adams and kept him from helping the Yorkers.
Not all of the settlers supported the Green Mountain Boys. Some people did not like that the Green Mountain Boys broke the law or threatened Yorkers. Many settlers paid money to New York to keep their land.
The Green Mountain Boys also protected Vermont during the Revolutionary War. They helped capture Fort Ticonderoga from the British. At the Battle of Bennington, the Green Mountain Boys fought with the American troops to beat the British.
Thinking About History
Historians ask questions to think deeply about history.
When is it right to use violence to defend your land or opinions? Is the answer different during a war?
If you were Dr. Samuel Adams, how would you respond to the Green Mountain Boys?
Learn More
Follow the links below to explore related topics.
Learn more about Ethan Allen
Learn more about Ann Story
Read the article Lost to History from Historic Roots Magazine
Copy and paste this citation to show where you did your research.
Vermont Historical Society. "The Green Mountain Boys." Vermont History Explorer. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://vermonthistoryexplorer.org/the-green-mountain-boys