American Revolution: The Shot Heard 'Round the World

Study Notes

The Shot Heard ’Round the World

April 19, 1775: The first shots of the American Revolution were fired in Lexington, Massachusetts.
Lexington militia: 80 armed men lined up in formation, wary of a potential conflict with British troops.
John Parker: The leader of the Lexington militia instructed his men to stand their ground and not fire first, but be prepared to fight.
Unclear who fired the first shot: The British soldiers believed the militia opened fire first, but the militia denied this claim.
Potential causes for the first shot: The shot may have been fired by an individual, not part of the militia, to sound an alarm.
Immediate aftermath: The British soldiers, perceiving themselves under attack, responded with a volley of fire, sparking immediate fighting.
Casualties in Lexington: Eight militia members were killed, nine wounded, and only one British soldier was injured.
The British move to Concord: The British soldiers marched to Concord, hoping to seize military supplies.
Word spreads: News of the fighting in Lexington prompted a rapid response from the local colonial militia, who gathered to confront the British.
Skirmish at North Bridge: Colonist militia confronted British troops at North Bridge, leading to additional gunfire.
British retreat: The British, facing growing colonial resistance, retreated to Boston.
Colonial ambush: The militia fired on the retreating British soldiers from behind trees and stone walls.
High British casualties: By the time the British reached Boston, 73 soldiers were killed and 174 were wounded.
Colonial losses: The colonists sustained 49 fatalities and 39 injuries.
Strategic failure for the British: The British failed to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock, key figures in the revolutionary movement.