Page 54 - Beers With Our Founding Fathers

Beers with our Founding Fathers

committed, at any cost, to plant the seeds of freedom that would

take until 1783 to take root and be recognized. The road to
independence was thirteen years to this point, and would be half of

that more; twenty years to independence that has lasted almost
twenty times that to date. The American War for Independence

would be a trying and determined accomplishment unlike the world
has seen, even today.

With independence not declared until half of 1776 had passed,
preceded by most of 1775 and the earlier First Continental Congress

holding no desire to being independent of England, it must have
been a historic first six months of 1776. The armies unequal in

training, experience and supplies. The English had the advantage of
having a larger army with better training, experience and supplies.

The colonists had the advantage of familiar terrain – including some
having fought in the French and Indian War, and a self-guided

purpose. Supplies for the colonists were difficult due to naval
blockades, trade restrictions and some internal conflict as the road

to independence became more apparent. England had supplies, but
an ocean’s journey away – and the same situation with replacement

troops.
In the first quarter of 1776, Boston was evacuated by the English

after having been besieged by the colonists. Reinforcements were
on the way, but it was a long journey. At around this time, South

Carolina was the first state to ratify its own constitution, an

indication that other colonies were also considering independent
governments – sovereignty. In the next few months, the Second
Continental Congress would encourage the remaining colonies to

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