Lexington Concord

On this day, 250 years ago, shots were fired that would change the course of history.

British regulars marched on Concord to seize colonial military stores.

At Lexington, the colonial militia known as Minutemen made their stand. A shot rang out - no one knows who fired it. Then more shots. The brief skirmish left eight Minutemen dead and several wounded. The British continued their march to Concord

At Concord's North Bridge, the British met a larger force of Minutemen. This time, the colonists stood their ground and forced the British to retreat.

As the British retreated, colonial militia from surrounding towns harassed them, inflicting heavy casualties.

Let’s look at 3 big things about Lexington Concord:

1. The Shot Heard 'Round the World - The skirmish at Lexington is known as the Shot Heard ' Round the World, because of the global significance of the American Revolution and its impact on the fight for independence and democracy worldwide.
2. America's First Victory - The victory at Concord boosted the morale of the colonists and proved that they could stand up to the British army.
3. Guerilla Warfare - The colonial militia used guerrilla tactics to harass the British troops during their retreat to Boston. This unconventional warfare was effective in inflicting heavy casualties on the British. But this strategy would have its limits. Ultimately, George Washington would have the Continental Army trained in the linear tactics of the day so that they could stand toe-to-toe with the British.

And there you have it – America 250 years ago. Stay tuned for more updates leading to America’s 250th birthday.