The Battles of Lexington and Concord

Essay by cometJunior High, 9th grade March 2003

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The Battles of Lexington and Concord

Between 1754 and 1763 the American militia fought side by side with the British in a series of battles, known as the French and Indian War. These costly battles left the British government in debt; this caused their Parliament to impose a series of taxes on the Colonies. The Colonists thought it to be unfair because they were being taxed without representation. This grievance stemmed many battles known as the American Revolution.

By the spring of 1775, the American Colonies were in a state of anxiety. The British treated the people of Boston poorly and the word of Revolution spread quickly. Opposed to England's polices, the people of Massachusetts formed resistance groups, such as Sons and Daughters of Liberty. These groups boycotted taxed goods and started organized rebellions.

Up and down the east cost the settlers realized that war with England was quite probable.

Because of the fear of war, the soldiers trained for four days a week. This made them stronger than the British regulars. Towns would coordinate small groups of militias to form a larger group, thus supporting one another. For years there had been violent clashes between the British authorities and outraged colonist. The Boston Massacre of 1770 and the Boston Tea Party of 1773 were vivid reminders of their conflict.

The leaders of Massachusetts, Samuel Adams, John Hancock and Joseph Warren wanted Americans to be seen as victims of British violence, not the cause of it. They wanted Britain to fire the first shot if they're where to be a revolt.

General Thomas Gage, commander of all British troops in North America, established his head quarters in Boston. He felt controlling the colonist gunpowder could stop the revolution. The British took Boston's gunpowder on September 1, 1774.

The Colonist decided...