My Revolution
The shot heard around the world...
The Battles of Lexington and Concord
"Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."
- Captain John Parker, Commander Colonial Militia
It’s April 19, 1775. Last night Joseph Warren sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to warn the Provincial Congress in Concord and the militias across the area that British regulars had been ordered by General Thomas Gage to head out of Boston to seize and destroy all “military stores”. What started out as a few became 40 or more sending out the alert.
At about 5 AM, a militia company of about 70 men, under the command of Captain John Parker, stood toe-to-toe on the Lexington “Green”, a parade ground in the town, against about 700 British. Even though both sides reportedly told their troops not to fire, a shot was heard and both sides began firing leaving eight militiamen dead
As the British continued to Concord, more gathered from the countryside to support the militia forces. Everything came to a head at the North Bridge in Concord, leading to a retreat by the British who were harassed on their way back to Boston. What started as a few militia swelled to almost 4,000 against the supported contingency of a total of 1,500 British. In the end, 49 colonists and 73 British regulars were killed and there was no turning back. The American Revolution had begun.
What brought us to this point...
1754
May 28 - The French & Indian / Seven Years' War begins
Jul 10 - Albany Plan of Union
1763
Feb 10 - End of French & Indian / Seven Years War. English claim most of the French territory. English debt soars.
Oct 7 - Proclamation of 1763 prevents settlement beyond the Appalachian mountains
1765
Mar 22 - Stamp Act
Mar 24 - Quartering Act
Oct - Stamp Act Congress meets in Philadelphia
1766
Mar 18 - Parliament repeals Stamp Act and passes Declaratory Act
1768
Feb 11 - Massachusetts Assembly denounces Townsend Acts
Aug 1 - Boston Non-Importation Agreement boycotts British goods.
1770
Jan 19 - Golden Hill Riot, NY
Mar 5 - Boston Massacre
1772
Jun 9 - Rhode Island mob burns British ship, Gaspee, patrolling for smugglers
1773
May 10 - Tea Act
Dec 16 - Boston Tea Party
1774
Mar 31 - Boston Port Act closes port in response to Boston Tea Party
May 20 - Intolerable Acts
Jun 2 - Quartering Act
Sep 5 - First Continental Congress meets in Philadelphia
1775
Apr 18 - Revere, Dawes, and others ride to warn militias that the British regulars will be coming to the countryside looking for arms and ammunition
Apr 19 - Battles of Lexington and Concord
For more information, check out these links below...
Captain John Parker - Biography by the American Battleship Trust
Imagining the Battle of Lexington - The American Revolution Institute
Lexington and Concord: The Shot Heard 'Round the World - American Battlefield Trust
The Shot Heard Round the World: April 19, 1775 - Concord Museum
Lesson Plan: the Battles of Lexington and Concord - C-SPAN Classroom
North Bridge, Concord, Massachusetts