Freedom 250

By April 1775, tensions between the British Empire and the American colonies had reached a breaking point. British authorities feared open rebellion and ordered troops to march from Boston to Concord, Massachusetts, to seize weapons and gunpowder believed to be stored by colonial militias. The goal was to prevent resistance before it could grow.

But the patriots were forewarned, and local militia mobilized to meet them.

On April 19, 1775, fighting broke out first in Lexington and then continued into Concord and along the road back toward Boston. Although it remains uncertain who fired the first shot, the clash became the first battle of the American Revolution, “the shot heard ‘round the world.”

Colonial forces resisted successfully and forced British troops into a difficult retreat toward Boston under continued attack.

The battle transformed political resistance into armed conflict, drew thousands of militia members from across New England, and helped lay the foundation for what would become the Continental Army. A year later, on July 4, 1776, the colonies declared independence and formed the United States of America. The war with England would last until 1781 with the surrender at Yorktown. The Treaty of Paris formally ended the American Revolution in 1783.

Paul Revere

In 1774–1775, Paul Revere worked as an express rider for patriot groups in Massachusetts, carrying messages and intelligence between colonies.

On the evening of April 18, 1775, Revere was sent to Lexington with news that British troops were marching from Boston. Crossing the river to Charlestown, he borrowed a horse and rode through nearby towns warning local militia.

He reached Lexington shortly after midnight and delivered the message, helping colonists mobilize before British forces arrived.

His ride became one of the most recognized moments leading into the Battles of Lexington and Concord – the beginning of the American Revolution.

Lanterns as Colonial Alarm

On the night of April 18, 1775, as British troops prepared to leave Boston, Paul Revere arranged for a signal to be displayed from the tower of Christ Church, today known as Old North Church.

The lanterns served as a predetermined signal to the colonists across the Charles River:

One lantern – British troops were leaving Boston by land
Two lanterns – British troops were crossing the river by boat;

Two lanterns were ultimately displayed. The signal was intended to alert local networks in case Revere was unable to leave Boston and deliver the warning himself.