Why did Lexington and Concord fight?

Answer 1

British General Gage learned that the colonists had stored supplies and ammunition at Concord, MA, some 20 miles from Boston. On 19 April 1775, he sent 700 of his troops to seize the munitions and, if possible, capture and arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Gage had received information that those two “rebels” were hiding out in Concord. Warning the Americans that the British were marching to Concord were the trio Revere, Dawes, and Prescott, of the famous “Midnight Ride.” When British Major John Pitcairn arrived at Lexington, which was on the way to Concord, he found 70 American minutemen (actually, they were almost all farmers) in battle formation at the town square. Pitcairn ordered the Americans to disperse but when they didn’t move after the second order to do so, someone fired a shot. It is not known if the shot was fired by Americans or British. The British easily cleared Lexington and marched on to Concord. He found more Americans arming the bridge into the town so Pitcairn order the British to return to Boston. All the way back to Boston, the Americans sniped at the British from behind trees and rocks, inflicting serious injury to the British troops. When the Redcoats reached Boston, 250 had been killed or wounded.

Answer 2

British General Gage learned that the colonists had stored supplies and ammunition at Concord, MA, some 20 miles from Boston. On 19 April 1775, he sent 700 of his troops to seize the munitions and, if possible, capture and arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Gage had received information that those two “rebels” were hiding out in Concord. Warning the Americans that the British were marching to Concord were the trio Revere, Dawes, and Prescott, of the famous “Midnight Ride.” When British Major John Pitcairn arrived at Lexington, which was on the way to Concord, he found 70 American minutemen (actually, they were almost all farmers) in battle formation at the town square. Pitcairn ordered the Americans to disperse but when they didn’t move after the second order to do so, someone fired a shot. It is not known if the shot was fired by Americans or British. The British easily cleared Lexington and marched on to Concord. He found more Americans arming the bridge into the town so Pitcairn order the British to return to Boston. All the way back to Boston, the Americans sniped at the British from behind trees and rocks, inflicting serious injury to the British troops. When the Redcoats reached Boston, 250 had been killed or wounded.

Answer 3

Put simply, the British forces in Boston, MA were ordered to find the arms and ammunition of the American Colonists, which were suspected to be in nearby Concord. The Americans were alerted of the intrusion by dozens of Patriot riders who spread the news all across the countryside. When the British arrived in Lexington, about halfway to Concord, they were met by about 70 militiamen under Captain John Parker. British Major Pitcairn shouted to the nervous Americans, "Disperse ye rebels!." The Americans began to back away and disperse when a shot was fired. Alarmed, the British soldiers spontaneously opened fire, killing eight Patriots and wounding ten more. The British continued to Concord, where accounts vary as to what was found, (some say several cannon and a few dozen small arms, other sources say nothing at all.) A small force of British soldiers were ordered to guard the North Bridge in case the Americans tried to counterattack. After several minutes of awkward staring at each other from across the bridge, the Americans opened fire. The British force tried to retreat to Boston in order, but they were repeatedly ambushed and the retreat became nearly a rout by the time the surviving British soldiers arrived back in Boston.

Answer 4

General Gage sent troops to capture Hancock and Adams in Lexington and to seize Patriot weapons stockpiled in Concord. The local Patriots rallied to drive the troops back to Boston. 70 patriots went and gathered on the Lexington Green. The British commander ordered his troops to disperse. Then someone fired a shot. Both sides engaged in combat, and when the shooting stopped 8 patriots were dead. This started the American Revolution.

Answer 5

It Happened because Americans took British weapons and hid the weapons in Concord. When British got to Concord they were all gone because Americans were using them.

Answer 6

british wanted to take gunpowder away from colonists no intention to start a war

Answer 7

fighting broke put because the British soldiers were trying to take down the minutemen arms store

Answer 8

Fighting began at Lexington and Concord during the Revolution over arms. The British found out the colonists were storing ammunition in these towns.