1. Lexington And Concord Notes

2. 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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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!

10. 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