THE BATTLES OF LEXINGTON AND CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS
THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLES
THE BRITISH ARE COMING!
FIGHTING BREAKS OUT
Following the French and Indian War, there were many tensions between the colonists and Britain. Britain started exerting more control on Massachusetts as a result of their rebellious actions. The British heard that there were weapons stored in Concord and so they marched there from Boston to find the colonial militia supplies.
FIGHTING BREAKS OUT
However, the colonists found out that the British were marching to Concord and Paul Revere & William Dawes went out warning and alerting others that “the British are coming!” General Gage of Great Britain and Colonel Barrett and Parker of the Continental Army both readied their troops for the battles.
EFFECTS OF THE BATTLES
On the morning of April 19, 1775, about 700 British troops and 77 colonial militiamen came face to face at Lexington, and a shot was fired. No one knows who fired the first shot to this day.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BATTLES
Shot heard 'round the world
war.
Following the first shot, chaos ensued, fighting broke out, and when all the smoke cleared, eight militiamen lay dead and nine were wounded, while one Redcoat was injured.
The British then continued on to Concord to find the colonial militia weapons, and at North Bridge they faced colonial militiamen again. Gunfire was exchanged leaving two colonists and three redcoats dead. The colonists defeated the British at North Bridge and the British decided to retreat back to Boston. By the time the British reached Boston, they lost 73 men and 174 were wounded. The Americans lost 49 men and 41 were injured.
These battles became known as the "shot heard 'round the world." The Battles of Lexington and Concord were significant as they shattered any hopes of reaching a consensus with Britain. Colonists realized the only way out was war. However, it also proved to the colonists that they could put up a good fight against Britain and have a chance at winning. The American Revolution had officially begun.