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The Green Mountain Boys were a paramilitary force several hundred strong that effectively controlled the area where New Hampshire grants had been issued. They were led by Ethan Allen, his brother Ira , and their cousin Seth Warner . They were based at the Catamount Tavern in Bennington, ironically only a short distance from the New York seat of government in Albany. By the 1770sEvents and Trends United States Declaration of Independence ratified by the Continental Congress ( July 3, 1776). The document was drafted by a committee consisting of representatives John Adams of Massachusetts, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, Thomas, the Green Mountain Boys had become an armed military force and de factoDe facto is a Latin expression that means "in fact" or "in practice", commonly used as opposed to de jure (meaning "by law") when referring to matters of law or governance or technique (such as standards), that are found in the common experience as create government that prevented the Albany government from exercising its authority in the northeast portion of the Province of New YorkThe Province of New York was an English colony that existed roughly within the current boundaries of the State of New York. The original boundaries also encompassed the current states of New Jersey and Vermont. The province was granted to James, Duke of Y. New York authorities had standing warrantIn law, a warrant can mean any authorization. Often in statute the warrant of a particular person is required before certain administrative actions can take place. For example, before the United States Secretary of State may affix the Great Seal of the Uns for the arrests of the leaders of the rebellious Vermonters, but were unable to exorcise them. New York surveyors and other officials attempting to exercise their authority were prevented from doing so and in some cases were severely beaten.

When the American Revolutionary War started in 1775Events February 9 American Revolutionary War: British Parliament declares Massachusetts in rebellion March 23 American Revolutionary War: Patrick Henry delivers his speech " give me liberty or give me death" in Williamsburg, Virginia. April 14 American Re, Ethan Allan and a force of his guerillas, along with MassachusettsMassachusetts is a state of the United States of America, part of the New England region. postal abbreviation is MA and its traditional abbreviation is Mass . It is properly called the Commonwealth of Massachusetts although there is no legal distinction b Colonel Benedict Arnold, marched up to Lake Champlain and captured the important military posts at Fort Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Fort Ann , and the town of St. John (now St. Jean , Quebec). The Green Mountain Boys later formed the basis of the Vermont militia which selected Seth Warner as its leader. Some of the Green Mountain Boys preferred to stick with Ethan Allen and were captured along with Allen in August 1775 in a bungled attack on the city of Montreal.

Vermont eventually declared itself an independent country in January of 1777, and organized a government based in Windsor. The army of the Vermont Republic was based on the Green Mountain Boys. Although Vermont initially supported the American Revolutionary War and sent troops to fight John Burgoyne's British invasion from Canada at Hubbardton and Bennington in 1777, Vermont eventually adopted a more neutral stance and became a haven for deserters from both the British and colonial armies. George Washington, who had more than sufficient difficulties with the British, brushed off Congressional demands that he subdue Vermont. The Green Mountain Boys/Vermont Army faded away after Vermont eventually joined the United States as the 14th U.S. state in 1791.

See also: Battle of Ticonderoga (1775)

See also: "A Day No Pigs Would Die" Robert Newton Peck (1972)