Battle+of+Lexington+and+Concord

= Lexington and Concord: A revolutionary start to the American Revolution, 1775 = =[|Map of The Battle] =

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[|Paul Revere,] [|William Dawes] and Samuel [|Prescott] rode to warn the villages on the route to Concord and the Congress. =====

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**Why:** The Battle of Lexington and Concord was made up of two battles that began on April 18th, 1775. British troops were sent to Concord to capture [|John Hancock] and [|Samuel Adams], but both men had been warned about the British attack. The night of April 18th, Paul Revere rode through Concord warning everybody about the British attack. So when the British came in to take and attack the Rebels, the minutemen were already expecting them. ===== = BREAKING NEWS!! = =The[| Story Of The Battle]at Lexington and Concord = 

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At midnight on the dawn of Aril 19th, Smith's advanced parties, consisting of 650-900 troops, left Boston and crossed the Charles River, followed closely by the alarm rider Paul Revere. With Major Pitcairn in charge, the troops and arrived at[| Lexington Green]to see a group of [|armed Militia] in formation awaiting their arrival. Pitcairn ordered the militia, led by John Parker, to be surrounded and disarmed. In response Parker ordered his men to dispers e, at the concord North Bridge, near the [|Old_North Church] the Then a shot rang out. So started the [|first battle] in the American Revolutionary War.[| No one knows who fired first,] but the British, hearing the shot, fired upon the small group of militia, killing 8, and wounding 10 more. The militia then retreated into the woods to avoid the British fire. At this point, the British commander decided to retreat back toward Lexington, as it became evident that more and more Minutemen were arriving from all of the local villages and farms. During this retreat the british stuck straight to the main and only road, while the [|american farmers] and others continues firing from behind trees and various locations in the woods in the vicinity of the main road. This even consisted of walls or any [|obstacles] they could find to shoot from. When the British force returned to Lexington, they were met by a relief column. The combined British units then headed for Boston. The Minutemen continued to harass them the whole way. By the end of the day, British casualties numbered 273, while the[| colonials suffered only 94,] 18 of whom fell during the initial clash at Lexington. =====



Results: [|Winner- Americans]
This reverse in victory greatly encouraged the spriti of the entire revolt across American colonies. It also served as an immediate cause for New York being seized for the revolution considering strong forces moves to Boston eventually forming Washington's continent al Army. This battle was so important because it was the first battle of the American Revolution.

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Days later the men of Massachusetts used the engagement as [|propaganda] to turn the public opinion to their cause. At the time of the battle only one third of the population believed in breaking from Britain =====

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A Musket; The main weapons of the American Revolution were the muzzleloading flintlock musket, which were attached bayonet, and the cannon. Secondary weapons were the rifle and pistol, swords and other cutting weapons. By far, the most common weapon was the smoothbore flintlock musket, of a large caliber, .62 to .75 inch bore, or equal to 16 to 11 gauge shotguns. =====

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It is claimed that the fight at Lexington was begun by Major Pitcairne firing his pistols at the Americans, but it is considered unknown as to who really started the war. Someone would have eventually began, but without direct orders from their leaders, if it had not been a leader themself. =====

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">together with the several Encampments of both armies in and around Boston.
<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Discussion Questions; <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Q: Which parliament British laws led to the battle of lexington and concord?** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A: After 1774, with the passage ofthe Inteolerable Acts by the British parliament. This increased unrest throughout the colonies.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Q: Why were the soldiers in Massachusetts called "Minutemen"?** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">They could be easily prepeared and were trainedto be in the time frame of one minute.

**Q: Do you think the colonists were right to go to war with England? Why or why not?**

**Q:** **Why do you think the four thousand colonists in the forest were able to kill so many English soldiers?**