Patriots' Day commemorates the opening battles of the American Revolutionary War, specifically the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775. Observed annually on the third Monday of April in Massachusetts, Maine, and Wisconsin, the holiday's "real story" centers on the pivotal events that marked the armed conflict between Great Britain and its thirteen colonies. It stands as a remembrance of colonial militia resistance against British forces and the pursuit of independence.
The historical narrative begins with British General Thomas Gage's decision to march troops from Boston to Concord to seize military supplies cached by the colonial militia and to apprehend prominent revolutionary leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock. Colonial intelligence, facilitated by riders like Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, alerted the militia to the British advance. The morning of April 19, 1775, saw the first engagement at Lexington Green, where a small contingent of colonial minutemen confronted a larger British force, resulting in the "shot heard 'round the world" and several colonial casualties. Subsequently, the British moved to Concord, where they encountered a more substantial militia force at the North Bridge. This engagement forced the British to retreat towards Boston under continuous attack from an accumulating number of colonial militiamen employing guerrilla tactics, inflicting significant casualties along the route.
The significance of Patriots' Day lies in these initial skirmishes, which, despite not being decisive battles in a traditional sense, galvanized colonial sentiment and effectively initiated the armed struggle for American independence. They demonstrated the willingness of ordinary colonists to resist British authority by force, transforming a political dispute into a full-scale revolution. Thus, the "real story" underscores the courage of the early American patriots and the foundational moments that led to the formation of the United States.
