What Happened On Lexington Green?

The American Revolution was a critical turning point in American history. Following the French and Indian War, Britain ignored its previous policy of salutary neglect and began intervening in the colonies affairs through taxes, occupation of soldiers, violation of civil liberties, all the while ignoring colonial pleas for representation in Parliament. These events led to the “shot heard ‘round the world” at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775. America was now at war with Britain. Nevertheless, the impact of

The Boston Massacre is considered by many historians to be the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The fatal incident happened on March 5 of 1770. The massacre resulted in the death of five colonists. British troops in the Massachusetts Bay Colony were there to stop demonstrations against the Townshend Acts and keep order, but instead they provoked outrage. The British soldiers and citizens brawled in streets and fought in bars. “The citizens viewed the British soldiers as potential oppressors, competitors for jobs, and a treat to social mores'; (Mahin 1). A defiant anti-British fever was lingering among the townspeople.     

On April 19, 1775 the Revolution finally began on the footsteps of Concord. After days of rumors British forces finally moved into the small town. Unlike most expected the minutemen held their own and protected the town of Concord along with militia from neighboring towns. When the fighting in town died down and everything was calm in Concord WIlliam Emerson claimed “This month [is] remarkable for the greatest Event taking Place in the present Age(132).” This attitude

The importance of this raid lay in the fact that they captured much-needed cannons and gunpowder.

The first shots of the Revolution rang out April 19 1775 at Lexington green. Reports say the British fired first killing eight patriots. I believe these reports to be true. There was a lot of controversy surrounding this, since none of us were there, no one can be certain on who fired first. Evidence shows the British fired first. I think based on the evidence provided it was very easy to see the British were the first to fire the shot of the revolution.

Similar to the way that the colonial and British perspectives greatly varied for the Boston Massacre, their opinions are once again vastly different for the Battles of Lexington and Concord. In this event as well, both parties attempt to place the blame on the other which is not unusual due the nature of the sources. However, this highlights the large amount of bias evident in all of the accounts. For the colonial perspective, there are two statements, each from a member of a colonial militia that fought during the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Both of these sources place the blame on the British soldiers and claim that the British fired first, killing several colonists. One account, from the Battle of North Bridge, claims that the colonists were ordered to hold their fire and that they didn’t fire until the British opened fire upon them. The other account, from soldier who fought during the skirmish at the Lexington Green, states that the colonists did not even get a single shot off, at least not before the soldier whose account this is was wounded. This source also claims that the British commanding officers were yelling at and insulting the colonists as their ranks closed on the milita. Both these sources are very similar to the colonial perspectives of the Boston Massacre because they all place the blame on the British soldiers and attempt to make themselves appear as the victims.

Who fired first in the historical Battle of Lexington? Well there is no right answer history has shown people have come up with theses trying to prove what had happened but we just really don’t know. But I think I have found the the answer. I believe the colonist fired first because they have a history of antagonizing the british in some situation’s it has turned deadly. Also on many accounts of the events they had been found guilty of firing first.My reasons to support my thesis are from British Lieutenant John Barker’s personal diary of the day of the event and George Leonard a colonist who wrote to British general to tell him what he experienced. My rebuttal sources are Simon Winship’s official deposition in which he claims that the

The Battle of Lexington and Concord was a significant part of the American Revolution as it was the first military engagement between the British soldiers (Redcoats) and the colonists citizen soldiers(Patriots). Throughout the early morning of April 19, 1775 word had spread in the colony of Massachusetts that British Redcoats were on the march to Lexington. Farmers, as well as craftsmen's, and citizen Patriots grabbed their guns and ammunition to protect the villages of Lexington and Concord. (Peacock 4) The 700 Redcoats had reached Lexington, where they were confronted by the Patriots to try and

The Battles of Lexington and Concord are the initial battles of the revolutionary war. In the Revolutionary war Britain descovers that the terrnosity of the Americans will not so easily be silenced. Hundreds of British troops, exstimated to be around 700, marched from Boston to Lexington on the evening of April 18, 1775, with secret orders to capture any weapons availble to the American militia. Thanks to the efforts of Paul Revere and William Dawes, who rode from Boston to Lexington in the middle of the night. Colonial leaders John Handcock and Samuel Adams were warned of the intentions of the oncoming redcoats. The British red coats clashed witlh American militia at Lexington on April 19, 1775.

Most of the colonists rebelled against Parliament’s decisions of passing new laws, they were angered by the creation of the Tea Act, and rebelled by dumping 18,000 pounds of tea into the Boston Harbor, which was known as the Boston Tea Party. The colonists were determined to get their independance from Great Britain, so after the battles of Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress met to decide what was to be done next. For example, “Americans had a grand cause: fighting for their rights, their independence and their liberty” (American and British Strengths and Weaknesses). This shows that the colonists were not just fighting to win, they were fighting for their freedom, their rights, and their independance from Great Britain. Most of the American military were civilians that were fighting because they wanted freedom and they were determined to do

The colonists call for self-rule increased with each new act passed. Instead of listening to the American colonists, Britain kept passing new acts. An example that shows the extent to which politically the American Revolution can be called an accelerated evolution rather than a cataclysmic revolution are the battles of Lexington and Concord. The increased want for independence led the colonists to create a continental army and begin their fight for change. In 1775, Massachusetts was proclaimed to be in an open rebellion and British General Thomas Gage was ordered to put a stop to it. On April 18, 1775 General Gage dispatched 700 soldiers to capture colonial leaders and supplies at Concord. Fortunately, Paul Revere and other riders were able to warn the patriots of the attack and at dawn militiamen confronted the British troops first at Lexington and then Concord. After these battles 73 British soldiers were dead, 174 wounded and 26 were missing. Americans suffered too with 49 Massachusetts militiamen killed and 39 wounded. The battles at Lexington and Concord show a more radical way that the colonists chose to achieve independence from Britain. Due to violence and a want for rapid change, the battles of Lexington and Concord show politically how the American Revolution can almost be a cataclysmic revolution. The American Revolution did not happen suddenly, but built up more as each new act

The British were informed that the colonists had weapons near Concord and went to find them, but the colonists were also informed that the British were going Concord. On the way to Concord, the British encountered a group of Minutemen in Lexington who were ready to battle, but the British easily won and many Minutemen were dead or wounded. Despite the loss, the colonists were willing to fight for freedom. Even though they knew they did not have a chance, they were willing to risk their lives. When the British reached Concord, they did not find guns, but they found Minutemen and soon the British were fleeing. The Minutemen would hide and every time they found a fleeing redcoat they would should at them and this was tactic that the British had not seen and it caused them to lose many men. America had a major debt problem after the Revolutionary War, but they were willing to deal with that because getting their freedom was so important to them. The mentality that the colonists had during the war allowed them to succeed and create their

The Revolutionary War started in 1775. The American colonies have had enough of the British occupants and set their foot down in pursuit to freedom and independence. Each battle that happened during the Revolutionary War had its own significance and contributions to the independence of the colonies. Many brave men laid their lives in pursuit of the dream of independence from British control. One particular battle paved the way for that independence to become a reality. That battle is known as the Battle of Yorktown. The Battle of Yorktown took place in what we know today as Virginia. It was a decisive battle that turned the table during the Revolutionary War. The battle ultimately led to the liberty of the American Colonies from the

One main difference between the colonial minutemen and British military is the training and the organizational structure. The British military was more organized and well trained professional soldiers and were well equipped. The minutemen on the other hand was a bunch of rage tag men that were farmers and other backgrounds called upon arms, had limited military training, and were ill equipped. Despite the facts that the British Empire was the most powerful military during that time, Colonial America still defeated the British Military. The American minute men also introduced guerrilla warfare to the military tactics which was not practiced during that particular time period. There is one question. How did the minutemen of the American Colonies gain the victory over the British Military and how did the tactics affect military history. The Colonial Minutemen gained the victory over the British Military during the Revolutionary war due to their resources, tactics, and familiarity of the land while their tactics introduce guerilla warfare to military

The Boston Massacre is considered by many historians to be the first battle of the Revolutionary War. The fatal incident happened on March 5 of 1770. The massacre resulted in the death of five colonists. British troops in the Massachusetts Bay Colony were there to stop demonstrations against the Townshend Acts and keep order, but instead they provoked outrage. The British soldiers and citizens brawled in streets and fought in bars. “The citizens viewed the British soldiers as potential oppressors, competitors for jobs, and a treat to social mores”. A defiant anti-British fever was lingering among the townspeople.