The Revolution Begins

1. The Revolution Begins Chapter 8, Lesson 3 4-3.4, 4-3.2

2. Paul Revere’s Ride • On the night of April 18, 1775, 700 British soldiers began to march from Boston. They were on their way to Concord, a town about 20 miles northwest of Boston. • Over the past year, Patriot militias had been storing weapons in Concord. Now the British soldiers had orders to “seize and destroy” these military supplies. • There were rumors that the British had another goal as well: to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Like Adams, Hancock was an important Patriot leader in Boston. Both men were staying in Lexington, a town located between Boston and Concord.

3. Paul Revere’s Ride • The British wanted their march to be a secret. They did not want the militias in Lexington or Concord to know they were coming. • So General Gage put extra guards on duty and gave them strict orders not to let any colonists leave Boston that night. • Paul Revere had learned of Britain’s secret plans. He set out to warn the militias in Lexington and Concord.

4. Paul Revere’s Ride • At the same time, a shoemaker named William Dawes, talked his way past British guards at Boston Neck and rode toward Lexington to spread the warning. • Revere reached Lexington first. He warned Adams and Hancock who escaped. • Samuel Prescott, a young doctor, joined Revere and Dawes. • British soldiers spotted the three riders on the road and ordered them to stop. • Revere was captured. Dawes jumped from his horse and escaped into the woods. Prescott got away and rode on to Concord, where he warned the Concord militia to get ready.

5. The Shot Heard Around the World- Battle of Lexington • At 5 A.M. on April 19, sixteen-year-old William Diamond began to beat his drum. This was the signal for the Lexington minutemen to come running. About 70 men gathered. • John Parker, captain of the Lexington minutemen, gave his men their orders: “Stand your ground. Don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have war, let it begin here.” • British soldiers soon marched into Lexington and Concord surrounding Captain Parker’s men. British Major John Pitcairn shouted at the minutemen: “Ye villains, ye rebels! Lay down your arms!”

6. The Shot Heard Around the World- Battle of Lexington • Then, someone fired – no one is sure who. • British soldiers quickly opened fire on the minutemen, killing 8 and wounding 9 more. • Only 1 British soldier was wounded during the short Battle of Lexington. • The British cheered their victory and marched on to Concord. • The first shot at Lexington became known as “the shot heard around the world.”

7. Battle of Concord • When the British soldiers reached Concord, they searched for weapons, but found none. • The women of Concord had helped hide the town’s military supplies in fields and barns all over town. • Meanwhile, militia men from nearby towns began pouring into Concord. Suddenly the Patriots had an advantage in numbers.

8. Battle of Concord • After a brief battle at North Bridge in Concord, the British began the 20-mile retreat to Boston. Thousands of Patriots now lined the road, firing at the British as they marched. • The British suffered heavy losses – about 250 soldiers either killed or wounded. • Patriot loses totaled about 50 killed and 40 wounded. • The American Revolution, a war Americans fought for independence, had begun.

9. The Battle of Bunker Hill • On the night of June 16, a Patriot colonel named William Prescott led about 1,200 men up the hills of Charlestown. Patriot leaders knew that if they could control these hills, they could bring up cannons and fire them down on the British in Boston. • Prescott’s men worked all night, building a fort out of earth and logs on Breed’s Hill. When the British woke the next morning, they were shocked to see the fort. British generals decided to take the hill back before it was too late. More than 2,000 soldiers prepared to attack.

10. The Battle of Bunker Hill • Tired and hungry after a long night’s work, the Patriots prepared to face the British attack. Colonel Prescott told his men, “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes.” • After British ships fired on the fort, British soldiers marched up Breed’s Hill. When the British got within 100 feet of the fort, the Patriot guns exploded with a blast of deadly fire, driving the British back. • British soldiers attacked again and were driven back again. • Prescott’s men were nearly out of ammunition. The British marched a third time and captured the hill. The battle was over.

11. The Battle of Bunker Hill • Though the fighting took place on Breed’s Hill, the battle is known as the Battle of Bunker Hill, a nearby hill. • The British won the Battle of Bunker Hill, but it cost them more than 1,000 soldiers killed or wounded. About 400 Patriots were killed or wounded. • Although they lost the battle, the Patriots were proud of how they had fought. Patriot farmers and craftsmen had stood up to the mighty British army.

12. Flash Cards The British marched into Lexington and killed eight Patriots. The British won and marched on to Concord. The Patriots were ready to fight and had an advantage in numbers. After a brief battle the British retreated back to Boston. Costly victory for British troops over the Patriots. More than 1,000 British men were killed. It began the American Revolution, which affected people in the Americas, Europe, and elsewhere. The British went to Concord to seize the Patriot militias’ weapons and to arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Paul Revere The Battle of Lexington and the Battle of Concord They knew if they could gain control of the hills they could fire down on the British in Boston. • What happened at the Battle of Lexington? • What happened at the Battle of Concord? • What happened at the Battle of Bunker Hill? • Why was the first shot at Lexington called “the shot heard round the world”? • What were the two reasons the British went to Concord? • Which Patriot warned of the British Attack? • Which battles began the American Revolution? • Why did the Patriots choose a hill for the location of their fort?

13. Videos/Links • BP: Causes of the American Revolution • BP: Declaration of Independence • BP: American Revolution • SL: And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? 23:55 min • SL: The American Revolution: From Colonies to Constitution: The Road to Revolution 15:00 min • SL: The American Revolution: From Colonies to Constitution: The War for Independence 15:00 min • SL: The American Revolution: From Colonies to Constitution: Shaping the New Nation 15:00 min • SL: Six Revolutionary War Figures 15:29 min