Revolutionary War: The Battles of Lexington and Concord


The battles of Lexington and Concord were neccessary battles to the American Revolutionary War because they started the very thing that made our country free. Many people have always wondered how the historic American Revolutionary War got started. Sure, they have heard the stories of Paul Revere and the Midnight Ride: There was even a poem written about his ride, but Paul Revere didn’t start the war. It was a much bigger deal than just that.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the very first battles of the Revolutionary War. The battle of Lexington was a brief fight that marked the first war-like conflict. It took place on the morning of April 19, 1775, when about 70 colonial minutemen, commanded by Captain John Parker, collided with about 800 British soldiers marching their way to Concord, Massachusetts, to steal some equipment from the colonial militia. The British soldiers were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith (Lexington, Battle of).

The first shot fired at this battle was the famous "Shot heard around the world." It was called that because it affected the history of the world greatly. Although when this battle happened, it wasn’t an official battle. It was mainly just like David and Goliath. It wasn’t fair: 800 seasoned soldiers against 70 colonial men.

The men who were involved were called "embattled farmers" by the well-known New England poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. These "embattled farmers" faced many long years of war. When the war ended, however, the 13 colonies would stand as a free country (Davidson).

The Battle of Concord was the first serious conflict of the Revolutionary War. It again was fought on the same day as the battle of Lexington, April 19, 1775. The colonists had failed to stop the British, but they got reinforcements. when the British got to Concord, there was no equipment to be taken. It was a decoy and the British had been tricked. When they turned around to head back, they were faced with the Colonial army to fight. The colonial army won and the American Revolutionary War had begun.

At the battle of Concord, Captain John Parker said, "Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here."

Many famous people were involved in these battles. Paul Revere was a patriot who is well-known for his famous midnight ride. The Sons of Liberty hung two lamps from the Old North Church in Boston as a signal that the redcoats were coming. Paul Revere rode his horse through the sleepy towns and villages yelling, "The British are coming! The British are coming!"

Captain John Parker was important to us because he was the commander over the colonial militia. He was the hero of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. He was right up there with the many men of the colonial militia (Concord, Battle of).

Other midnight riders were William Dawes and Samuel Prescott. They followed Revere’s lead and warned the colonies’ minutemen of the British advance. They were all heroes and should have gotten as much credit as Paul Revere did.

Many famous events took place along the way with these battles. Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride, for instance. On April 18, 1775, about 700 British soldiers left Boston in the middle of the night. The Sons of Liberty were watching and when the British set out for Concord, they hung two lanterns in the Old North Church tower in Boston as a signal that the redcoats were fast on their way.

Colonist soldiers who were waiting across the Charles River saw the signal. Messengers mounted their horses and galloped through the night toward Concord. Paul Revere was one of them.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a poem about Paul Revere’s famous midnight ride.

The famous "Shot Heard Around The World" was the first shot fired at the Battle of Lexington. This shot has affected the history of the entire world. If the USA had not won the war and become independent, then who would have pulled the world out of W.W.II? Who would have stood up to Russia and won the Cold War?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were important battles to the American Revolution. They were the first ones in which America claimed war on the British. They had put up with England’s taxes long enough. After all, they had to go through the Townshend Acts, The Stamp Act, The Sugar Act, and many other acts that put the colonies through a lot of hardship.

The colonists realized that they had the power to defeat the British. They had beaten them at Concord. They figured that they could beat them anywhere. They won some and they lost some. But they did end up beating the British.

Many people died and there is a monument at Old North Bridge that marks the place at which the Battle of Concord fought. It helps us to remember this great part of history. This monument would be a great place to visit during a summer vacation.

Overall, the Battles of Lexington and Concord were important battles to the American Revolutionary War. These battles were the first and most important battles. They were when the American colonies declared war on Britain and began their long journey down the road to independence.


Works Cited

Davidson, James West. The American Nation. New York: Prentice Hall Publishing, 1994.

"Lexington, Battle of; Concord, Battle of." Encarta Multimedia Encyclopedia. Microsoft Corporation, 1995.

"Lexington, Battle of; Concord, Battle of." Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia. Grolier, 1997.

Author unknown. "Lexington, Battle of; Concord, Battle of." World Book Encyclopedia.1994.