The Shot Heard 'Round the World
The Shot Heard ‘Round the World
The Shot Heard ‘Round the World
This text is adapted from an original work of the Core Knowledge Foundation.
It was April 19, 1775. Tensions between the British and American colonists were at a high point. Americans were already preparing for war. British soldiers were looking to stop a rebellion.
It was April 19, 1775. Tensions between the British and American colonists were at a high point. Americans were already preparing for war. British soldiers were looking to stop a rebellion.
In Lexington, a town on the road to Concord, 80 American militiamen lined up in formation. They had their guns with them, but they were not planning to fire on the British redcoats. After all, a war had not been declared. Still, they knew there was a chance fighting might break out, and they wanted to be ready if it did.
In Lexington, a town on the road to Concord, 80 American militiamen lined up in formation. They had their guns with them, but they were not planning to fire on the British redcoats. After all, a war had not been declared. Still, they knew there was a chance fighting might break out, and they wanted to be ready if it did.
As the British approached, John Parker, the leader of the Lexington militia, told his men, “Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
As the British approached, John Parker, the leader of the Lexington militia, told his men, “Stand your ground; don’t fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here.”
A British officer told the armed men to go home. According to one report, he shouted, “Lay down your arms, you rebels!” However, as the militiamen were turning to go, a shot rang out.
A British officer told the armed men to go home. According to one report, he shouted, “Lay down your arms, you rebels!” However, as the militiamen were turning to go, a shot rang out.
Who fired that shot? Even today nobody knows for sure. The British soldiers thought the militiamen fired it. However, Parker and his men said later that they did not. The shot may have been fired by someone who was not part of Parker’s militia. He may have been firing into the air to sound an alarm. In any case, the soldiers thought they were under attack. They fired a volley and—in a matter of seconds—guns were flashing and smoking on both sides.
Who fired that shot? Even today nobody knows for sure. The British soldiers thought the militiamen fired it. However, Parker and his men said later that they did not. The shot may have been fired by someone who was not part of Parker’s militia. He may have been firing into the air to sound an alarm. In any case, the soldiers thought they were under attack. They fired a volley and—in a matter of seconds—guns were flashing and smoking on both sides.
Seven members of the militia were killed in Lexington that day, and nine more were wounded. On the other side, only one British soldier was wounded.
Seven members of the militia were killed in Lexington that day, and nine more were wounded. On the other side, only one British soldier was wounded.
Next, the British soldiers marched on to Concord. They searched Concord and found a few cannons and some musket balls. By this time, word of the fighting was spreading rapidly. Hundreds of men made their way to Concord, ready to fight. One troop of militiamen met the British on the outskirts of Concord at North Bridge. The British fired. The militiamen fired back.
Next, the British soldiers marched on to Concord. They searched Concord and found a few cannons and some musket balls. By this time, word of the fighting was spreading rapidly. Hundreds of men made their way to Concord, ready to fight. One troop of militiamen met the British on the outskirts of Concord at North Bridge. The British fired. The militiamen fired back.
Soon the British commander decided to march his troops back to Boston. However, as the British soldiers made their way back, militiamen shot at them. The militiamen hid behind trees and stone walls. They fired on the British soldiers, one or two at a time. By the time the British made it back to Boston that night, 73 soldiers had been killed and another 174 had been wounded. As for the colonists, 49 had died and 39 had been wounded. The colonists had stood up to the British, and the British had failed to capture the rebellious patriots Samuel Adams and John Hancock, which had been their initial goal. There was no going back—the Revolutionary War had begun!
Soon the British commander decided to march his troops back to Boston. However, as the British soldiers made their way back, militiamen shot at them. The militiamen hid behind trees and stone walls. They fired on the British soldiers, one or two at a time. By the time the British made it back to Boston that night, 73 soldiers had been killed and another 174 had been wounded. As for the colonists, 49 had died and 39 had been wounded. The colonists had stood up to the British, and the British had failed to capture the rebellious patriots Samuel Adams and John Hancock, which had been their initial goal. There was no going back—the Revolutionary War had begun!