Lexington And Concord Notes

Event One: 1st Continental Congress Overview September 1774 Continental Congress formed in response to the Intolerable Acts 55 delegates from 12 colonies sent to Philadelphia to form the first Continental Congress Purpose: to establish a political body to represent American interests and challenge British control Yet, in reality, delegates were sent for different reasons

Event One: 1st Continental Congress Significant Delegates Samuel Adams (Massachusetts) John Adams (Massachusetts) John Jay (New York) Richard Henry Lee (Virginia) Patrick Henry (Virginia) George Washington (Virginia)

Event One: 1st Continental Congress Decisions Made Drafted statement of grievances Called for repeal of 13 acts of Parliament Boycott British trade Endorsed Suffolk Resolves Suffolk Resolves From Suffolk, Massachusetts Resolves that denounced Massachusetts Government Act Called on the people to arm themselves against the British In other words, form militias

Event Two: Colonies Build Forces People expected fighting to break out in New England first Militia companies trained, made bullets and stockpiled rifles and muskets Minutemen: militias who boasted that they could be ready at a “minutes” notice “elite” force; unique from regular militia

Event Three: Britain Sends Troops King George III announces to Parliament that the New England colonies were “in a state of rebellion” and “blows must decide” By April 1775… 1,000’s of British soldiers in Boston area More on the way

Event Four: British Soldiers Ordered to Seize Weapons April 14, 1775 General Thomas Gage ordered to take away the weapons of Massachusetts militia and to arrest the rebel leaders Gage had learned that arms and ammunition were stored in Concord, MA Concord = approx. 20 miles northwest of Boston April 18, 1775 Gage orders 700 troops to mark to concord where “you will seize and destroy all the artillery and ammunition you can find” Done in secret Troops not told what they were doing until they had already begun

Event Five: Warning the Colonists Additional Background: Colonial “rebel” leaders had already learned of Gage’s orders through their informants in London Samuel Adams an John Hancock had already left Boston Staying with Hancock’s relatives in Lexington, MA April 18, 1775 Dr. Joseph Warren sees a regiment form ranks in Boston Common and march out of city Warren alerts Paul Revere and William Dawes Revere and Dawes ride to Lexington to warn Samuel Adams and John Hancock Colonists thought this was the British army’s goal Also realize: Lexington was on the way towards Concord

Event Six: The Battles Lexington British arrive at dawn Greeted by approx. 70 minutemen Standing on town commons with muskets in their hands Shot fired Many shots fired RESULT: 8 minutemen dead British troops continue to Concord Don’t worry, Adams and Hancock are not captured!

Event Six: The Battles Concord British troops arrive in Concord to find most ammunition already gone Destroy remaining supplies FYI: This causes quite a bit of smoke Minutemen from Concord watching from a distance decide to head towards Concord Joined by five companies of militia from neighboring towns Colonial militia and British army meet at Concord’s Northbridge British soldier fires Battle ensues Approx. 10 minutes RESULT: 13 British soldiers wounded 3 British soldiers dead British retreats back to Boston