The Road to Revolution: Lexington and Concord

By 1775, the relationship between Great Britain and its American colonies was at a breaking point. Years of simmering anger over British policies like high taxes, trade restrictions, and a lack of colonial representation in Parliament had pushed many colonists to consider independence. The cry of "no taxation without representation" echoed across the colonies, as leaders argued that they should not be taxed by a government in which they had no voice.

In response to growing colonial defiance, Great Britain implemented a series of harsh laws known as the Coercive Acts (or Intolerable Acts) in 1774. These acts were designed to punish the Massachusetts colony, especially after the Boston Tea Party. They closed Boston Harbor, limited town meetings, and allowed British soldiers to be housed in private homes. Far from quelling the rebellion, these acts only further united the colonies in their opposition to British rule.

As tensions escalated, colonists began to prepare for potential conflict. Across New England, local militias—groups of citizen soldiers—formed and began drilling. These militias included "Minutemen," who were trained to be ready to fight at a moment's notice. They secretly stockpiled weapons, gunpowder, and other military supplies in towns outside of Boston, such as Concord.

The British March

General Thomas Gage, the British commander-in-chief in North America and governor of Massachusetts, became aware of the colonists' military preparations. He received intelligence that a significant cache of arms was stored in Concord. Gage also had orders to arrest prominent patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were believed to be in Lexington. On the night of April 18, 1775, Gage ordered a force of about 700 British regulars to march from Boston to Concord, with a stop in Lexington. Their mission: destroy the colonial military supplies and capture Adams and Hancock.

However, the colonists were vigilant. Patriots like Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott rode through the night, warning towns and villages that the British were coming. This famous "midnight ride" allowed the Minutemen to mobilize and prepare for the approaching British troops.

Lexington: The First Shots

As dawn broke on April 19, 1775, the British troops arrived in Lexington. On the village green, they found a small company of about 70 Minutemen, led by Captain John Parker, standing in defiance. Parker, knowing his small force was no match for the British regulars, famously told his men, "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

In the tense standoff that followed, a shot rang out. To this day, historians are not certain who fired the "shot heard 'round the world"—the first shot of the American Revolution. Regardless of its origin, it sparked an immediate skirmish. The British regulars, superior in numbers and training, quickly overwhelmed the Minutemen. Eight colonists were killed, and ten were wounded. With their objective in Lexington seemingly complete, the British troops reorganized and continued their march towards Concord.

Concord: Resistance and Retreat

Upon reaching Concord, the British forces searched for the colonial arsenal. However, most of the supplies had been moved by the quick-thinking colonists. A portion of the British troops was stationed to guard the North Bridge, where they encountered a larger force of colonial militia. In a more significant exchange of gunfire, the colonists, inspired by their initial stand and growing numbers, successfully defended the North Bridge, forcing the British to retreat.

As the British began their long march back to Boston, they faced an unexpected and relentless assault. Thousands of colonial militiamen from surrounding towns, alerted by the earlier warnings, lined the roads. They fired from behind trees, stone walls, and houses, turning the British retreat into a desperate running battle. The colonists, using guerrilla tactics, inflicted heavy casualties on the exhausted British soldiers. By the time the British reached the safety of Boston, they had suffered over 250 casualties, while the colonists had fewer than 100.

The Spark of War

The Battles of Lexington and Concord, though relatively small engagements, were profoundly significant. They demonstrated that the American colonists were not only willing to fight for their rights but were also capable of effectively resisting the mighty British army. These battles shattered any remaining hopes for a peaceful resolution and transformed a political dispute into an armed conflict. The "shot heard 'round the world" truly marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War, setting the stage for the birth of a new nation.

Understanding the Spark: Lexington and Concord

Directions: Read "The Road to Revolution: Lexington and Concord" carefully and answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. What were some of the main grievances (complaints) that American colonists had against Great Britain leading up to 1775?
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. How did the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) contribute to the growing tensions between the colonies and Great Britain?
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Who were the "Minutemen," and what was their role in colonial preparations for potential conflict?
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. What were General Thomas Gage's two main objectives for the British march to Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775?
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Describe what happened at Lexington Green. Why is the "shot heard 'round the world" significant, even though its origin is unknown?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. How did the events at Concord, particularly at the North Bridge, differ from those at Lexington?
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. Explain the challenges the British faced during their retreat from Concord back to Boston. What does this tell us about the colonial militia?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. In your own words, explain why the Battles of Lexington and Concord are considered the official start of the American Revolutionary War.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Understanding the Spark: Lexington and Concord - Answer Key

Directions: Use this answer key to review the worksheet questions. Please note that student answers may vary slightly in wording, but the core concepts should be present.

1. What were some of the main grievances (complaints) that American colonists had against Great Britain leading up to 1775?

   • Thought Process: The reading explicitly mentions several complaints in the first two paragraphs. I need to list these.
   • Answer: American colonists primarily complained about high taxes, trade restrictions, and a lack of representation in the British Parliament. They also felt their rights as Englishmen were being violated by British policies.

2. How did the Coercive Acts (Intolerable Acts) contribute to the growing tensions between the colonies and Great Britain?

   • Thought Process: The reading describes these acts and their effect. I need to summarize how they angered colonists.
   • Answer: The Coercive Acts closed Boston Harbor, limited colonial self-governance, and allowed British soldiers to be quartered in private homes. These acts were meant to punish Massachusetts but instead united the colonies in their opposition to British rule, escalating tensions.

3. Who were the "Minutemen," and what was their role in colonial preparations for potential conflict?

   • Thought Process: The reading defines Minutemen and explains their function.
   • Answer: Minutemen were trained citizen soldiers within the colonial militias who were prepared to fight at a moment's notice. Their role was to quickly mobilize and respond to any British threat, often secretly stockpiling weapons and supplies.

4. What were General Thomas Gage's two main objectives for the British march to Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775?

   • Thought Process: The reading details Gage's orders. I need to identify both parts of his mission.
   • Answer: General Thomas Gage's two main objectives were to destroy colonial military supplies (weapons and gunpowder) stored in Concord and to arrest patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock, who were believed to be in Lexington.

5. Describe what happened at Lexington Green. Why is the "shot heard 'round the world" significant, even though its origin is unknown?

   • Thought Process: I need to describe the confrontation and then explain the symbolic importance of the first shot.
   • Answer: At Lexington Green, a small group of about 70 Minutemen confronted roughly 700 British regulars. A shot was fired by an unknown source, leading to a brief skirmish where eight Minutemen were killed. The "shot heard 'round the world" is significant because it symbolically marked the beginning of open armed conflict in the American Revolution, signaling the start of a global movement towards self-governance, even though its exact origin remains a mystery.

6. How did the events at Concord, particularly at the North Bridge, differ from those at Lexington?

   • Thought Process: Compare the outcomes and nature of the engagements in both locations.
   • Answer: At Lexington, the Minutemen were quickly overwhelmed, suffering heavy casualties, and the British continued their march. At Concord, especially at the North Bridge, the colonial militia was better organized and more numerous. They successfully pushed back the British, forcing them to retreat, demonstrating effective resistance rather than just a brief confrontation.

7. Explain the challenges the British faced during their retreat from Concord back to Boston. What does this tell us about the colonial militia?

   • Thought Process: Describe the retreat and what it reveals about the colonists' fighting style and determination.
   • Answer: During their retreat, the British faced constant attacks from thousands of colonial militiamen who fired from concealed positions along the road. This turned their march into a desperate running battle and resulted in significant casualties for the British. This tells us that the colonial militia was determined, adaptable (using guerrilla tactics), and capable of inflicting serious damage on a well-trained army, even without formal battle lines.

8. In your own words, explain why the Battles of Lexington and Concord are considered the official start of the American Revolutionary War.

   • Thought Process: Synthesize the overall impact and significance of the battles as described in the reading.
   • Answer: These battles are considered the official start because they were the first instances of organized, armed conflict between British forces and American colonists. They proved that the colonists were willing and able to fight for their rights, effectively ending any chance of a peaceful resolution and escalating the political dispute into a full-scale war for independence. They were the spark that ignited the larger conflict.