Who was responsible? From the years 1763- 1775 there were many areas of discontent between the King George III and the colonists in North America. Armed conflict erupted at Lexington and Concord, which were the first actions of the American Revolution, with the colonists seeking independence from the British crown. "…The sword is now unsheathed (drawn), and our friends are slaughtered by cruel enemies. Expresses (messengers) are hastening from town to town, in all directions through the country…rousing people To Arms! To Arms." (Quoted in the Military Journal of the American Revolution, 1775.)