Battle of Lexington n Battle n n of
Battle of Lexington
n Battle n n of Lexington A brief skirmish that marked the first military clash in the American Revolution (17751783). It took place on April 19, 1775, between some 70 colonial minutemen commanded by Captain John Parker, and about 700 British
n The British were out to destroy colonial stores of gunpowder. The American militia, warned of the British approach by the patriot Paul Revere and others, had assembled to halt the British.
Questions n n n What would have happened if the British took away the colonist’s gun powder? What would have happened to the rebellion? What is the difference between minutemen (militia), and regular soldiers?
n the Americans refused to disperse when ordered to do so by the commander of the British advance units. n Gunfire was exchanged and eight Americans were killed before the minutemen retreated.
Questions n n Why do you think that the militia refused to leave? Was this a British or a Colonist victory?
Battle of Concord
Concord n n Battle of Concord, first serious engagement of the American Revolution, which followed the American patriot Paul Revere's famous ride warning of British attack. The battle was fought at Concord, Massachusetts, on April 19, 1775.
Why the British went to Concord n n Large quantities of ammunition and military stores had been gathered by the colonists at Concord. The British general Thomas Gage sent about 700 British soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith, to Concord; their orders were to capture or destroy the supplies
Questions n Would the rebellion have been badly affected if it had lost those weapons and gun powder?
What Happened n n The colonial militia, or minutemen, had been warned of the British advance They heard about skirmish at Lexington & were prepared to fight
Question n n Why was the “skirmish” at Lexington important then? What did it accomplish?
What Happened n The minutemen, numbering between 300 and 400, took position on the farther side of the North Bridge over the Concord River and stubbornly resisted the British advance.
Outcome n n n Several men on both sides were killed or wounded. The British troops fell back and began a retreat toward Boston. They were harassed on the way by irregular colonial militia
Question n n Was this a British or Colonist victory? Why was it important that the Colonists harassed the British on the way back to Lexington, Charlestown, and then Boston?
Outcome n n The British troops, exhausted and demoralized, finally reached Lexington The colonists pursued the British all the way to Charlestown, Massachusetts
Significance n The battle was significant, not in terms of casualties—more than 270 British and fewer than 100 Americans—but in demonstrating the resolution and fighting power of the Americans.
Question n n So in the end who won the Battles of Lexington and Concord? How did these two battles affect the beginning of the war?
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