 Tensions increased during the winter of 1774 and spring of The King refused to listen to the colonists’ complaints. Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death!”

 Militias formed and trained throughout the colonies.  Minutemen – citizen soldiers ready to fight at a moment’s notice

 A. the British General in Boston had heard that the colonists had stockpiled a lot of weapons in nearby Concord.  The colonists found out that he planned to send troops to seize them, but they did not know when  700 Redcoats tried to leave Boston secretly on the night of April 1775, but the colonists had look-outs watching them

 A. Paul Revere and William Dawes rode horses ahead to Lexington to warn the minutemen.  B. “The British are coming!”

 A. When the British reached Lexington on April 19, 1775, 70 minutemen were waiting.  B. A shot was fired, but know one knows who fired it.  C. Both sides then exchanged gunfire and 8 colonists were killed

 A. here, another conflict occurred  B. the British found no supplies here

 A. They then had to march 20 miles back to Boston.  B. All along the way, colonists fired at them from the trees and behind walls

 A. 247 redcoats were dead or wounded  B. 93 Colonists were dead or wounded  The American Revolution had begun!!!!!!