Lesson #4: Lexington and Concord
The Battle of Lexington and Concord in 1775 was where the War of Independence began with the "shot heard 'round the world." For this lesson, you will research a secondary source and two primary sources to discover how the Patriots and Loyalists felt about this event in history.
Remember: If you can't finish the assignment in class, then you have to take it home for homework.
Click on these links to start your research!
Secondary Source: Independence Hall Association article
Patriot Primary Source: Official Statement of John Robbins, member of the Lexington militia, April 24, 1775 on page 10 of the Minuteman National Historical Park Lesson from the National Park Service.
Loyalist Primary Source: Lieutenant Colonel Smith's letter to General Gage on April 22, 1775 starting at paragraph 2 (View the letter on the Independence Hall Association article above).
Answer these questions in your journal:
1. What happened at Lexington and Concord in 1775?
2. What is a similarity and a difference between the Patriot's perspective and the Loyalist's perspective about the battle of Lexington and Concord?
3. To this day, no one knows who fired first at the battle of Lexington. After reading the information in the sources given to you, who do you think fired first (Patriots or Loyalists) and why?
Remember: If you can't finish the assignment in class, then you have to take it home for homework.
Click on these links to start your research!
Secondary Source: Independence Hall Association article
Patriot Primary Source: Official Statement of John Robbins, member of the Lexington militia, April 24, 1775 on page 10 of the Minuteman National Historical Park Lesson from the National Park Service.
Loyalist Primary Source: Lieutenant Colonel Smith's letter to General Gage on April 22, 1775 starting at paragraph 2 (View the letter on the Independence Hall Association article above).
Answer these questions in your journal:
1. What happened at Lexington and Concord in 1775?
2. What is a similarity and a difference between the Patriot's perspective and the Loyalist's perspective about the battle of Lexington and Concord?
3. To this day, no one knows who fired first at the battle of Lexington. After reading the information in the sources given to you, who do you think fired first (Patriots or Loyalists) and why?