Battle of Lexington

American Revolutionary War - Lexington

American Revolutionary War - Lexington

This article on  the Battle of Lexington provides facts and information about this conflict between the British and American forces during the Revolutionary War:

  • What was the date of the Battle of Lexington?
  • Who were the leaders of the Battle of Lexington?
  • Where was the Battle of Lexington fought, the location of the battlefield?
  • Interesting facts and fast information about the significance of the Battle of Lexington
  • Educational resource for teachers and kids
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Battle of Lexington
Battle of Lexington Definition: The Battle of Lexington was a military conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America during the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783). The year and date that the Battle of Lexington took place on Wednesday, April 19, 1775. The Battle at Lexington Green in 1775 started the American Revolution and the "shot heard round the world." The battlefield in which the British and American Forces fought during the Battle of Lexington was located in the village of Lexington in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay.

Reason for the Conflict at the Battle of Lexington
General Thomas Gage, the military governor of Massachusetts, was aware that the Colonists in the Province of Massachusetts Bay were preparing for conflict, including the production of arms and munitions and the training of militia, including the Minutemen. On April 14, 1775, General Thomas Gage received instructions from Secretary of State William Legge, the Earl of Dartmouth, to disarm the rebels and to imprison the leaders of the rebellion. General Thomas Gage therefore sent British troops, the hated 'Redcoats', to capture the patriot leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock who were reportedly staying in the village of Lexington. Other British troops were sent to Concord to seize the arms and ammunition which led to the second conflict in the Revolutionary War - the Battle of Concord.

Battle of Lexington Green

The Battle of Lexington - The Midnight ride of Paul Revere
Following the 1773 Boston Tea Party and the passing of the punishing '1774 Intolerable Acts' the colonial patriots started to prepare for likely conflicts with the British. A leading patriot, Paul Revere, began serving as courier for the communication network organized by the Massachusetts Committee of Correspondence in 1774. In the early hours of April 19, 1775 Paul Revere, along with two other messengers, were sent to warn John Hancock and Samuel Adams of the movements of the British Army and their intentions to capture them. The patriots managed to escape the British but the presence of the British soldiers resulted in the first shot of the Revolutionary War being fired.

The Battle of Lexington
The British and the American colonists were in a face-off position on the green. There were over 100 spectators. Neither side wanted the situation to escalate and were ordered not to fire. No one knows who fired the first shot of the American Revolution - but many believe that it was an onlooker. Shots were exchanged by both sides resulting in the deaths and wounding of both American and British troops.

The Battle of Lexington ended with the retreat of the colonists who were vastly outnumbered by the British. The British marched out of Lexington and made their way to Concord to seize arms and ammunition and capture any rebels that resulted in the Battle of Concord.

The Importance and Significance of the Battle of Lexington
Significance of the Battle of Lexington: The significance of the conflict was that it was that this was the first battle in the American Revolutionary War.

Facts about the Battle of Lexington
Facts about who fought in the Battle of Lexington and the leaders of the conflict. Facts about where the Battle of Lexington was fought, the location of the battlefield. Facts and stats about the number of troops involved in the conflict and the numbers of those who were killed, wounded, missing in action or captured. Interesting history and facts about the Battle of Lexington:

Fast Facts about the Battle of Lexington
Name of Conflict: Battle of Lexington aka the Battle at Lexington Green
 
 
Result of the Battle of Lexington:
 
 The Battle of Lexington ended with the retreat of the colonists who were vastly outnumbered by the British
 
 
Location of Battlefield: The battlefield was located on the village green in the village of Lexington in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay
 
 
Date of the Battle of Lexington:
 
 Wednesday, April 19, 1775
 
 
Combatants: The British Army fought against the local colonial militia including the Minutemen
 
 

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Battle of LexingtonAmerican Colonies  British Forces 

Names of Leaders & Commanders:
 
 Captain John Parker 
General Gage
Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith
Marine Major John Pitcairn
 
 
Strength of Forces at Lexington:
 
 77 240 (Advanced Guard) 
Total Number of men killed in the Battle of Lexington:
 
 8 0 
Number of men wounded in the Battle of Lexington:
 
 10 1 
Number of men captured or missing in the Battle of Lexington:
 
 0 0 

The following picture represents some of the early designs of the American flag. The idea of flying a flag grew from the requirements of ancient warfare and the battlefield and was used as a rallying point for troops.


 

 

American Revolutionary war - The Battle of Lexington
The American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), which included the Battle of Lexington, was the culmination of the political American Revolution, in which many of the American colonists rejected the legitimacy of the British Parliament to govern the 13 colonies without representation.

Battles in the Revolutionary War

Battles in the Revolutionary War - Battle of Bunker Hill, Battle of Quebec, Battle of Cowpens & Moonlight Battle

The Battle of Lexington

  • The year and date of the Battle of Lexington

  • Facts, stats and history of the Battle of Lexington

  • Fast Facts and info about the Battle of Lexington and the Revolutionary War

  • A great history resource for kids

  • Social Studies Homework help for kids on the Battle of Lexington

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