The Patriots: The Cause Of The American Revolution

Over a period of several months, British intelligence in the American colony of Massachusetts had located stockpiles of weapons and provisions which they believed the colonists would use to stage a rebellion. The British planned to march with secrecy to Concord and destroy all military stores, including artillery, ammunition, provisions, tents, and small arms (Order Given to Lt. Colonel Francis Smith from Thomas Gage). The British also had to occupy the North Bridge and South Bridge in Concord. While the British were there, they intended to go to Lexington and arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock, supposed leaders of the rebellion. The British were also ordered to not hurt or steal from the citizens or damage property. Although there is conflicting

During the British march to Lexington, where they were ordered to destroy the colonists’ weapons and provisions, approximately 500 patriots assembled to stop the British. “...we still continued advancing, keeping prepared against an attack tho’ without intending to attack them, but on our coming near them they fired one or two shots…” (Lt. John Barker, British Soldier, 4th Regiment, Diary Account on the beginning of the march to Lexington). The British soldiers were not looking for a fight, as they wanted to avoid conflict, but they were prepared for anything. The Patriots fired at the British without being provoked, thus, they were the aggressors. The British returned from Lexington and Concord very dismayed. Paul Revere, Samuel Prescott, and William Dawes alerted the colonists in Boston and nearby that the British were coming. The Patriots hid the ammunition, weapons, and supplies under a field and John Hancock and Samuel Adams were able to escape British capture. On the British return to Boston, the colonial militias attacked. “...we were fired on from Houses and behind Trees...People had hid themselves in houses ‘till we had passed and then fired” (Lt. John Barker, 4th Regiment, Diary Account on Battle Road). The colonists had no mercy and fired first at the British, who had come to simply restore order. The Patriots were the aggressors at Concord and Lexington because they

They heavily relied on guerrilla tactics, which is a style of warfare that consists of hiding, using cover, and conducting hit-and-run attacks. On the British return from Concord, the Patriots surrounded the British and pounced. “...the Country was an amazing strong one, full of Hills, Woods, stone Walls, &c. which the Rebels did not fail to take advantage of, for they were all lined with People who kept an incessant fire upon us…” (Lt. John Barker, 4th Regiment, Diary Account on Battle Road). Clearly, this quote depicts an ambush on the British by the colonists. An ambush suggests that the Patriots wanted to kill or scare the British, and since it was a surprise attack, they fired first. This ambush, however, was not decided at the last minute; the Patriots had planned for it. Besides the fact that they were storing weapons, the colonists’ ambush was premeditated. “We all heard the alarm, and were ready to help fit out father and brother, who made an early start for Concord” (Alice Stearns Abbott, Citizen of Bedford, Massachusetts, on the Beginning of Fighting). The alarm would have been a tolling church bell or could have spread by word of mouth, and this warning system was planned. The location of the colonial militias, concentrated near the North Bridge, was decided in advance. The Patriots thoughtfully planned an ambush on the British, therefore, they were the