Lexington & Concord and The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere

1. Lexington & Concordand The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere The Redcoats are Coming!!!

2. The First Continental Congress • September 1774 • Met in Philadelphia • 56 Delegates • Including John Adams and Samuel Adams • Georgia – Only colony not to send a representative • Debated the best way to respond to the crisis taking place in Boston

3. The First Continental Congress • Outcomes • Delegates recommended that colonists continue to boycott British goods. • Assembled a list of 10 resolutions to present to the king. • Declaration of Rightsand Freedomsthat the delegates believed colonists should possess • “Life, Liberty, and Property.” • Agreed to meet again in May 1775 if the King did not agree.

4. Leading to Rebellion • Tensions between the American colonists and the British soldiers got worse. • British General Thomas Gage learned that two Patriot leaders, John Hancock and Samuel Adams were hiding out in the town of Lexington. • He also learned that the Americans had been stockpiling weapons and military equipment in the town of Concord. • He ordered approximately 800 British soldiers to arrest Hancock and Adams and seize the weapons.

5. “One if by Land, Two if by Sea!” • Paul Revere found out about General Gage’s plans and decided he needed to do something to help the Patriots. He would warn Hancock and Adams and the people of Concord. • He arranged for friends to give a secret signal to let him know how the British troops would leave Boston. • They were to put one lantern in the steeple of Old North Church if the British would be coming by land and two lanterns if they would be moving by sea. • Finally Paul saw the signal… • two lanterns!

6. “One if by Land, Two if by Sea!”

7. Warning the Colonists • On the other side of the river, PaulRevere and another patriot, William Dawes, rode in different directions to try and warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams that the British were on their way to arrest them. • They also wanted to tell the colonists in the towns of Lexington and Concord that the British soldiers were on their way! • The two men raced on their horses through the countryside, warning minutemen that the Regulars were coming!

8. Paul Revere’s Ride

9. “The Regulars are out!” • Paul rode his horse, Brown Beauty, into the night. • When he reached the town of Lexington, he shouted warnings • “The regulars are out!” (The British are coming!) • William Dawes arrived in the town soon after Paul. • They found the house where John Hancock and Samuel Adams were staying. • They warned them to leave or they would soon be arrested or killed.

10. Adams Response • Adams could barely control his excitement. • “What a glorious morning this is!” • Adams was ready to fight for American Independence.

11. Revere is Captured • Paul and William Dawes met up with another Patriot, Dr. Samuel Prescott. • The three of them headed to Concord to warn of the British invasion. • They had not gone far before they were spotted by British soldiers. • Dawes and Prescott escaped, but Paul was stopped. He managed to get away from the soldiers, but his horse was taken from him. • He had to walk back to Lexington, but he will always be remembered for his famous midnight ride. • Revere made it to Lexington in time to see the battle on the Lexington Green.

13. Lexington • April 19, 1775 • Fewer than 70 Minutemen gathered at the Village Green • “Don’t fire unless fired upon. But if they mean to have a war, let it begin here!” • Captain John Parker • Suddenly a shot rang out.

14. Battle of Lexington & Concord

15. “The Shot Heard ‘Round The World!” • No one knows who fired this “shot heard round the world”—but once the soldiers heard it, the fight began. • The Battle ended in 8 Minutes • Colonists had suffered • 8 Dead • 10 Wounded

16. On To Concord… • British moved to Concord to find weapons • Colonists had already removed them. • The British decided to set fire to the town buildings. • “Will you let them burn the town down?” • Angry Colonist

17. Colonists Fight Back • As the British Retreated • Colonists used Guerilla Warfare • Hiding behind trees and buildings. • Bright Red Coats were an easy target. • British Reach Boston • 250 British Casualties • Fewer than 100 Colonial Casualties

18. The American Revolution has Started!