The American Revolution The Battle of Lexington and

The American Revolution The Battle of Lexington and Concord Home Back Previous Next

Table of Contents • Leading up to the Battle Home Back Previous • “One if by land, Two if by sea” • Paul Revere’s midnight ride • “The shot heard round the world” • On to Concord • The British Retreat • Results of the Battle • Concord Hymn Next • Self Test • Reference Page

Leading up to the Battle • 1765 – Colonists violently protest the Stamp Act Home Back Previous • 1766 – Parliament repeals the Stamp Act, passes Declaratory Act • 1768 – British troops arrive in Boston to enforce laws • 1770 – Four Americans killed by British troops in “Boston Massacre” • 1773 – Boston patriots protest British Tea Act by throwing tea into the Boston Harbor • 1774 – First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia Next • April 19, 1775 – Fist battle occurs in Lexington and Concord

“One if by land, Two if by Sea” Home One if by land, two if by sea; And I on the opposite shore will be, Ready to ride and spread the alarm Through every Middlesex, village and farm, For the country folk to be up and to arm. -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Back Previous Next

Paul Revere’s Midnight ride Home Back Previous Next Paul Revere and Samuel Prescott rode from Boston to Lexington on the night of April 18, 1775 to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock that the British were coming to arrest them for treason.

The Shot heard ‘round the world Home Back Previous Next On the morning of April 19 th, 1775, at the break of dawn, British troops moved into the city of Lexington, where the minutemen stood awaiting. As the minutemen began to disperse to let the British pass, a shot was fired which lead to the British returning shots. And thus the American Revolution had begun. Seven minutemen lay dead after the gunfire as the British marched on to Concord.

On to Concord Home Back Previous Next The British marched into Concord to search for munitions. They found cannons and began to burn them. The militia fearing the British were burning the town marched towards the British. Shots were exchanged and the British retreated to Boston.

The British Retreat Home Back Previous Next As the British retreated to Boston, they encountered hundreds of local patriots who had heard about the incident in Lexington and had come to offer their services. 250 British soldiers were killed during the retreat.

Results of the Battle Home • The British failed to capture Adams or Hancock Back • The local militia had the British controlled city of Boston surrounded Previous Next • Word of the battle had spread throughout the Colonies and lead to the eventual organization of the first American Army.

Concord Hymn by Ralph Waldo Emerson Home By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world. Back The foe long since in silence slept; Alike the conqueror silent sleeps; And Time the ruined bridge has swept Down the dark stream which seaward creeps. Previous On this green bank, by this soft stream, We set to-day a votive stone; That memory may their deed redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone. Next Spirit, that made those heroes dare To die, or leave their children free, Bid Time and Nature gently spare The shaft we raise to them and thee.

What day did the Battle of Lexington and Concord occur? Home A. April 18, 1775 Back B. April 19, 1775 C. April 18, 1776 Previous Next D. April 19, 1776

What crime were Samuel Adams and John Hancock being charged with? Home A. Piracy Back B. Tax Evasion C. Treason Previous Next D. Murder

The British troops entered Concord searching for what? Home A. Munitions Back Previous Next B. The person responsible for the shot fired at Lexington C. Minutemen who retreated from Lexington D. George Washington and the American Army

References America at War: Battle of Lexington and Concord Home Back Previous Next The Battle of Lexington Fischer, David Hackett. Paul Revere's ride. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994. Paul Revere’s Ride Ralph Waldo Emerson Central Tourtellot, A. B. William Diamond's drum; the beginning of the War of the American Revolution. London: Hutchinson, 1960.