Fort Ticonderoga
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
Fort Ticonderoga was created by the French between 1755 and 1759 and originally named For Carillon. It was created to cover the portage between Lake George and Lake Champlain making it a very strategic position in the French and Indian war. It was also used during the American Revolution and is considered the location of "America's first victory" after Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold captured the fort. The munitions that were taken from the fort were moved to Dorchester Heights which helped to lead to the British evacuating Boston in 1776. The Fort Switched hands again in 1777 after British General Burgoyne placed cannons on Mount Defiance overlooking Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence forcing an American retreat off the hill.
Images
Picture of Fort Ticonderoga and their location in comparison to the Lake
Picture of Fort Ticonderoga and its shape
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Fort Ticonderoga was created from 1755-1759 by Michel Chartier de Lotbiniere to cover portage between Lake George and Lake Champlain and protect them from British Fort St. Frederic. During the French and Indian War this fort became a key strategic location because of its location on the Lakes.
During the Revolutionary war this was a strategic location because of the munitions that the British had stored there. The location was right across Lake Champlain from Vermont where the militia group called the Green Mountain Boys were located. On May 10th, 1775 the militia group led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold crossed Lake Champlain and took the British by surprise and still sleeping. This turned out to be a huge morale booster for the Revolutionary forces because it provided artillery taken from the British and was considered the first American victory of the Revolutionary War. (1)
After the Fort was taken by the Americans the munitions were then moved to Boston to assist in the Siege of Boston and the placements of the cannons helped to force the British out of Boston in 1776. In 1776 the fort was also used to help outfit the first American Navy, which was created to help prevent British invasion from Canada. Even though British won the Battle against the Navy the fort was deemed too strong and they didn't attempt to take it. (1) In 1777 the fort was taken by John Burgoyne a British General who placed cannons on Mount Defiance and forced the American Troops at Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence to evacuate and surrender the fort. (2)
During the Revolutionary war this was a strategic location because of the munitions that the British had stored there. The location was right across Lake Champlain from Vermont where the militia group called the Green Mountain Boys were located. On May 10th, 1775 the militia group led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold crossed Lake Champlain and took the British by surprise and still sleeping. This turned out to be a huge morale booster for the Revolutionary forces because it provided artillery taken from the British and was considered the first American victory of the Revolutionary War. (1)
After the Fort was taken by the Americans the munitions were then moved to Boston to assist in the Siege of Boston and the placements of the cannons helped to force the British out of Boston in 1776. In 1776 the fort was also used to help outfit the first American Navy, which was created to help prevent British invasion from Canada. Even though British won the Battle against the Navy the fort was deemed too strong and they didn't attempt to take it. (1) In 1777 the fort was taken by John Burgoyne a British General who placed cannons on Mount Defiance and forced the American Troops at Fort Ticonderoga and Mount Independence to evacuate and surrender the fort. (2)
Sources
(1) "An Epic Time Line of the Past," accessed on November 9th, 2014, http://www.fortticonderoga.org/story/military
(2) "The capture of Fort Ticonderoga," accessed on November 9th, 2014, http://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/capture-of-fort-ticonderoga