By 1775, the American colonies stretched from Canada to Florida and had a population of over two million people. Primarily farmers, the settlers worked the land and made a living by whatever means they could find. By this point most settlers were third or fourth generation and had created their own industry and economy independent of British influence. The colonists built new homes, roads, and cities and enjoyed the abundance of space and resources the new world offered. During this period of expansion and growth, however, an unwelcome concern lurked in the shadows. The British Empire was continually attempting to expand its kingdom and recover from the costly French and Indian War at the time. It wasn't long before King George realized the potential of the colonies as a source of revenue and supplies. As a result, the king began imposing new taxes and tariffs on goods produced in the colonies to replace the wealth the Empire had lost during the war. These taxes seemed unreasonable to the colonists, and along with the Boston Massacre in 1770 and the Boston Tea Party in 1773, a communal disgust with British rule began to grow. Colonial America: Local Events (Taxes, Boston Tea Parties) The American colonies were on the brink of revolt. By the spring of 1775, the colonist had great hatred towards the British Empire. This energy was greatest in Boston and the surrounding countryside, where British troops viewed the locals with suspicion. Britain's eyes were on Boston, where in Boston Harbor authorities kept a close eye on exports as locals looked for ways to get around the tariffs imposed on them by England. Illegal trade with the Dutch and French was rampant, and local authorities… middle of paper… Lake George, move further south and turn east toward Boston. Colonel Knox selected 58 mortars and cannons and began the process of moving to Lake George for the first leg of the journey. He set sail on December 9 in three boats with their precious cargo for a journey that lasted eight hard days. The weather took its toll on the group and they battled freezing cold, ice, and strong headwinds until they finally arrived at the southern end of the lake on December 17. Works Cited "Boston Tea Party" http://www.history. com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-partyLTC Mitchell, Joseph B. “Decisive Battles of the American Revolution.” New York, NY: Sons of G. P. Putnam 1962. Print.McCullough, David. 1776. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperback, 2005. PrintBailyn, Bernard. The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution (2nd ed. 1992) pp 230-319.