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Read all about Boston Tea Party Facts and Boston History. Learn about the event that lead to an American Revolution!

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The Revolution Begins: The Aftermath of the Battles of Lexington and Concord

The Battles of Lexington and Concord took a toll on both sides. For the colonists, 49 were killed, 39 were wounded, and five were missing. For the British, 73 were killed, 174 were wounded, and 26 were missing. While the colonists lost many minutemen, the Battles of Lexington and Concord were considered a major military victory and displayed to the British and King George III that unjust behavior would not be tolerated in America. The battles also constituted the first military conflicts of the American Revolution.

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The Battles of Lexington and Concord That Started a Revolution

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Read the complete history of the 1775 battles of Lexington and Concord that sparked the Revolutionary War. Explore the military strategy and aftermath of Lexington and Concord.

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On September 27, 1773, seven ships laden with two-thousand chests of East India Company tea left London. Four were heading to Boston while the other three were destined for New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston. Three ships, the Dartmouth, Eleanor, and Beaver, eventually docked in Boston two months later while one Boston-bound ship was lost in a gale off Cape Cod.

The Polly landed in Philadelphia on Christmas eve and was turned around, fully-laden, for a return voyage to London. The chests of tea aboard the ship London were off-loaded in Charleston and held in the damp basement of the Customs House where the tea quickly spoiled. The ship Nancy ran into horrendous storms, was blown off-course and arrived in New York in April 1774 where it was met by resistance. The Nancy's captain too was persuaded to head back to London with tea onboard.
FIVE - The tea rebellion in Boston was not originally called a "tea party."
The rebellious act of tossing tea into Boston harbor would not be called a " tea party " until 1829 when the Providence Patriot reported the death of ninety-seven year-old resident by the name of Nicholas Campbell, who "was one of the ever-memorable Boston Tea Party, who committed one of the first acts of resistance to British oppression."

Another member of the raiding party that night was Thomas Melville, grandfather of Moby Dick author Herman Melville.

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Five Facts You Didn't Know About the Boston Tea Party

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5 facts about the Boston Tea Party includes all the tea aboard the three East India ships in Boston on December 16, 1773 came from China, not India.

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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DK Find Out! | Fun Facts for Kids on Animals, Earth, History and more!

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The Boston Tea Party was a protest that happened in 1773. Angry colonists wanted to be able to make their own laws. They also wanted a vote. Since Britain didn't give the colonists a voice, they made a big protest by dumping 342 chests of tea into the water, which was worth millions of dollars in today's money.

This event helped Americans find out that they should not have been treated like this. It also made people decide they wanted independence from Great Britain.

Causes of the Boston Tea Party

The Stamp Act

The Stamp Act was a tax on documents that British people in America had to pay. The British Empire needed more money. They thought that if they put a tax on printed paper, Americans could pay for it.

The printed paper included:

playing cards

business licenses

newspapers

legal documents

People in America were mad. Everybody needed all these papers, but they cost a fortune now!

Americans did not want to pay the tax, so they said it was not legal. Some people who worked as collectors for the papers stopped working because they did not want to be hurt by angry Americans.

The Townshend Acts

The British were happy with the imposed taxes. Now they decided that more things should be taxed.

The Townshend Acts were named after a British chancellor. He imposed duties on different goods that the colonists imported from England.

With the Townshend Acts, new taxes were put on:

These things are difficult for people in the colonies to produce on their own, so they would have no choice but to buy them from Britain.

Benjamin Franklin said that the colonists would only pay for these imports if they had to, and not because they wanted to.

The story of tea

You may enjoy tea today with a bit of sugar and milk, but tea was not well known in the past.

This plant came from China. Tea grew among the high mountains that separated China from India.

For over 1000 years, it was Chinese people who drank it. Chinese merchants traded tea to Japanese ships, Mongol horsemen, and Persian caravans for many years.

Few Europeans had tasted tea before 1680, but by the 18th-century, trading firms like the English East India Company were regularly selling it for a lot of money.

In England, tea became a household drink that people liked. A lot of people weren't happy because they thought tea would make some bad habits like gossiping and being vain even worse, but the government did not stop them from bringing it in and selling it.

Tea was brought to America by the British. Some people bought tea legally, but other people smuggled tea to avoid taxes that were imposed in the Townshend Acts.

"Taxation without representation"

The British had been taxing the colonists. They did not feel that was fair. They had been taxed by Britain to pay for expenses from a war. The Americans also felt that Parliament did not have the right to tax them because they were not in Parliament.

So things became unstable in Boston because of the taxes. Colonists were mad at Great Britain for making them pay taxes without giving them a say in what those taxes were for.
Read more about the Tea Act 1773
The Boston Massacre

Boston had been occupied for a while with the British. After a long period of tension, there was a fight in the streets between Bostonians and Redcoats, the English soldiers.

The soldiers swarmed all over Boston and barged into people's homes without permission. Finally, there was a group called the Sons of Liberty who couldn't take it anymore and revolted against Britain.

A boy is killed

Skirmishes have been happening between colonists and soldiers. Patriots sometimes attacked stores that sold British goods.

In February, a mob of patriots attacked one store.

A customs officer, who lived near the store, tried to stop them by firing his gun through the window of his house. He accidentally killed an 11-year-old boy named Christopher Seider. This only angered the patriots more.

March 5, 1770

Five civilians were killed in a riot by gunfire from soldiers. This event is known as the Boston Massacre.

The first man to die at the Boston Massacre was a dockworker named Crispus Attucks. He had African and Indigenous descent. Little is known about him, but he is one of the most important figures in the American Independence War.

This is the illustration made by Paul Revere of the Boston Massacre. It includes a poem that he wrote. He copied it from another artist but did not give credit to him.

The Sons of Liberty held funerals for the victims and organized a vigorous propaganda effort to get people to feel sorry for them. They called the tragedy a "bloody massacre" (you can read that at the top of the illustration).

The Sons of Liberty

The Boston Tea Party was organized by Sam Adams who is also known as part of the organization Sons of Liberty. The Sons of Liberty were a group of men who were tired of the injustices caused by the British.

They protested because they wanted their rights back and wanted to get rid of British rule. People who did this included John Adams, John Hancock, James Otis, Josiah Quincy, and Paul Revere, among others.

The Daughters of Liberty

The Daughters of Liberty did not join in on the protests with the Sons of Liberty. Instead, they participated in boycotts and helped people make goods instead of buying British goods.

In 1768, when Boston merchants signed a paper that said they would not import or sell British goods, this led to a shortage of specific things like textiles. The Daughters of Liberty organized spinning bees to help make the fabric so that people could get dressed.

The Daughters of Liberty met at the house of a minister in Boston. The party was concluded with great tunes, anthems, and liberty songs.

Here is a poem that appeared at the time in the local newspapers:

YOUNG ladies in town, and those that live round,
Let a friend at this season advise you;
Since money's so scarce, and times growing worse,
Strange things may soon hap and surprise you...

No more ribbons wear, nor in rich silks appear;
Love your country much better than fine things
Begin without passion, 'twill soon be the fashion
To grace your smooth locks with a twine string,

September 27, 1773

Seven ships loaded with two thousand chests of tea left London. Four went to Boston, and the other three went to New York, Philadelphia, and Charleston.

One ship from Boston was lost at sea in a storm, while one ship from Philadelphia had all its tea taken off for a return trip back to London.

So only three ships came to Boston Harbor to Griffin's Wharf. In the 18th century, Griffin's Wharf was a busy place for ships. It is where people destroyed the tea in 1773. But now it's underwater because of landfills in Boston, and no one knows where it is.

The colonists did not want the boats. They told the leader of the colony that they wanted them to leave. But he said "no." People who lived there took care of these boats instead.

December 16, 1773

In the middle of the night, many people boarded 3 ships in Boston harbor.

In about two hours, they lifted 340 chests full of tea from the ship to the ground. They used hatchets to open the chests. Then they emptied their contents over rails on the ship.

Since it was low tide, you could see huge clumps of what they had thrown overboard piling up by the ships.

One of the green teas that were on the Boston ships was called hyson and was a favorite of Thomas Jefferson and George Washington.

Who spilled the tea?

A lot of people took part in the Boston Tea Party. Many of them didn't want to get caught, so they kept their identities hidden. To this day, we know that 116 people were there.

But not all of them are known- many went to their graves without telling who they were. Many were from Boston or nearby, but some came from as far away as Worcester in the middle of Massachusetts.

They wrapped blankets around their shoulders and had covered their faces with paint and soot. A newspaper report called them "resolute men (dressed like Mohawks or Indians)."

After the night of the tea party, the colonists would go out to ships and sink all of the remaining boxes of tea in Boston harbor.

March 24, 1774

They had parties until 3 months later when British soldiers barged into people's houses whenever they felt like it. The colonists were not allowed to leave Boston until they had paid for all of their tea.

Consequences

The King of England was angry. He didn't like what people in Boston had done. He helped pass a law to punish the men who dumped tea into the water.

The British kept trying to control the colonies, and the colonies rejected that idea. This was one of the significant events leading up to the Revolutionary War with Britain.

Tossing tea into Boston harbor was not called a tea party until 1829. The report of the death of an old man named Nicholas Campbell in Providence, who "was one of the ever-memorable Boston Tea Party" - that committed one of the first acts against British oppression - had this saying attached to it.

Sources

P.S. If you enjoyed what you read and are a teacher or tutor needing resources for your students from kindergarten all the way up to high school senior (or even adults!), check out our partner sites KidsKonnect, SchoolHistory, and HelpTeaching for hundreds of facts, worksheets, activities, quizzes, courses, and more!

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Boston Tea Party Facts for Kids | American Independence, Sons of Liberty

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The Boston Tea Party was a protest that happened in 1763. It made people decide they wanted independence from Great Britain.

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Historical Facts About The Townshend Acts

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A complete guide to Townshend Acts and their impact, in Boston. Stamp Act of 1765. Boston Massacre. Includes a list of interesting facts you may not know.

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Kids learn about the Boston Tea Party major event in the American Revolutionary War.

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Learn about the Intolerable Acts of the American Revolution including how they got their name, the Boston Port Act, Quartering Act, results, and interesting facts.

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Learn about the Boston Massacre where five colonies were killed by the British. Major event in the American Revolutionary War.

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Learn about the Townshend Acts from the American Revolution including how they got their name, what the laws did, why the colonists protested them, results, and interesting facts.

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Learn about the The Stamp Act of 1765. A tax the Britain placed on the American colonies eventually leading the Revolutionary War.

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History >> American Revolution

The Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775, just a few months after the start of the American Revolutionary War.

Battle of Bunker Hill by Pyle

Boston was being besieged by thousands of American militia. The British were trying to keep control of the city and control its valuable seaport. The British decided to take two hills, Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill, in order to gain a tactical advantage. The American forces heard about it and went to defend the hills.

Where did the battle take place?

This seems like the easiest question ever, doesn't it? Well, not really. There were two hills that the British wanted to take in order to be able to bombard the Americans from a distance. These were Breed's Hill and Bunker Hill. The Battle of Bunker Hill actually took place mostly on Breed's Hill. It's only called the Battle of Bunker Hill because the army thought they were on Bunker Hill. Sort of a funny mistake and it makes for a good trick question.

Bunker Hill Monument by Ducksters
You can visit Bunker Hill and climb to the top of
the monument for a view of the city of Boston

The Leaders

The British were led up the hill by General William Howe. The Americans were led by Colonel William Prescott. Maybe this should have been called the Battle of the Williams! Major John Pitcairn was also one of the British leaders. He was in command of the troops that started the fighting at Lexington that began the Revolutionary War. From the American side, Israel Putnam was the General in charge. Also, leading patriot Dr. Joseph Warren was part of the battle. He was killed during the fighting.

What happened at the battle?

The American forces learned that the British were planning on taking over the hills around Boston in order to gain a tactical advantage. As a result of this information, the Americans secretly moved their troops onto Bunker and Breed's Hill, two unoccupied hills just outside of Boston in Charlestown, Massachusetts. They built up fortifications during the night and prepared for battle.

The next day, when the British realized what had happened, the British attacked. Their commander William Howe led three charges up Breed's Hill. The Americans fought back the first two charges, but started to run out of ammunition and had to retreat at the third charge. The British gained the hill, but their costs were great. Around 226 British were killed and 800 wounded while the Americans did not suffer nearly as many casualties.

Battle Map - Click to see larger picture

Result of the Battle

Although the British won the battle and gained control of the hills, they paid a heavy price. They lost hundreds of soldiers including several officers. This gave the Americans the courage and confidence that they could stand up to the British in battle. Many more colonists joined the army after this battle and the revolution continued to grow in strength.

Bunker Hill Cannon Ball by Ducksters
A cannon ball dug up from Bunker Hill

Interesting Facts about The Battle of Bunker Hill

Because the Americans were low on ammunition, they were told "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes."

The American troops worked hard during the night building up the defenses. Much of the wall they built, called a redoubt, was nearly 6 feet high.

Future President of the United States, John Quincy Adams, watched the battle from a nearby hill with his mother Abigail Adams. He was seven years old at the time.

The British suffered the most casualties of any single fight during the American Revolutionary War.

Activities

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Works Cited

History >> American Revolution

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Kids learn about the Battle of Bunker Hill major event in the American Revolutionary War.

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Kids learn about Paul Revere's famous ride of warning the patriots about the British; major event in the American Revolutionary War.

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George Washington was the 1st president of the United States. Learn about his biography and life story.

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The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on Saturday June 17, 1775 during the Siege of Boston in the first stage of the American Revolutionary War. The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved in the battle. It was the original objective of both the colonial and British troops, though the majority of combat took place on the adjacent hill which later became known as Breed's Hill.

On June 13, 1775, the leaders of the colonial forces besieging Boston learned that the British were planning to send troops out from the city to fortify the unoccupied hills surrounding the city, which would give them control of Boston Harbor. In response, 1,200 colonial troops under the command of William Prescott stealthily occupied Bunker Hill and Breed's Hill. During the night, the colonists constructed a strong redoubt on Breed's Hill, as well as smaller fortified lines across the Charlestown Peninsula.

By daybreak of June 17, the British became aware of the presence of colonial forces on the Peninsula and mounted an attack against them that day. Two assaults on the colonial positions were repulsed with significant British casualties; the third and final attack carried the redoubt after the defenders ran out of ammunition. The colonists retreated over Bunker Hill, leaving the British in control of the Peninsula.

The battle was a tactical, though somewhat Pyrrhic, victory for the British, as it proved to be a sobering experience for them; the British incurred many more casualties than the Americans had sustained, including many officers. The battle had demonstrated that inexperienced militia were able to stand up to regular army troops in battle. Subsequently, the battle discouraged the British from any further frontal attacks against well defended front lines. American casualties were comparatively much fewer, although their losses included General Joseph Warren and Major Andrew McClary, the final casualty of the battle.

The battle led the British to adopt a more cautious planning and maneuver execution in future engagements, which was evident in the subsequent New York and New Jersey campaign, which arguably helped rather than hindered the American forces, as their new approach to battle was actually giving the Americans greater opportunity to retreat if defeat was imminent. The costly engagement also convinced the British of the need to hire substantial numbers of Hessian auxiliaries to bolster their strength in the face of the new and formidable Continental Army.

Interesting facts about the Battle for Bunker Hill

Most of the battle wasn't actually fought on Bunker Hill but Breed's Hill just to the south.

Major John Simpson (December 1, 1748 - October 28, 1825) was an American Revolutionary War soldier who was one of several men described as having fired the first shot on the American side at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

1,054 redcoats (British soldiers) died at Bunker Hill.

The reason the British won the battle was because the colonists ran out of ammunition and gunpowder.

The colonists used muskets and guns and the British used muskets and bayonets.

Even though the colonists lost it gave them a sense of hope and made them feel they were capable of beating the British.

Colonel William Prescott, who was in charge of the colonist forces said "Do not fire until you see the whites of their eyes", so the patriots wouldn't waste their ammunition and were able to hit their targets.

Images for kids

In Spanish: Batalla de Bunker Hill para niños

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Learn Battle of Bunker Hill facts for kids

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The Battle of Bunker Hill | Facts, Events, Information & History

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The Battle of Bunker Hill is an important turning point in the Revolution. The British won & took control of Boston, but at a terrible cost. Read more facts

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Download FREE teacher-made resources covering 'Battle of Bunker Hill for Kids'

Battle of Bunker Hill for Kids

The Battle for Bunker Hill was a battle in the American Revolutionary War, fought between the American colonial forces and the forces of the British Empire under King George III on June 17, 1775. It was fought at the site of Bunker Hill on the Charlestown Peninsula, Massachusetts, in the shadow of Charlestown itself.

Although the battle ended in a British victory, the cost of the victory for them and the relatively small cost to the colonial forces resulted in the Battle for Bunker Hill going down in history as an important victory for the American independence movement. It is said to be one of the most important battles in the American Revolutionary War as it demonstrated to the colonial population that the significantly larger, better funded, and better equipped British forces could be defeated.
Don't forget to check out our event page for Bunker Hill Day!
Causes for Battle of Bunker Hill

The cause for the Battle of Bunker Hill can be seen as the build-up to the much larger, full-blown War of Independence against the British Empire, who ruled the thirteen colonies at the time under the reign of King George III. The Battle for Bunker Hill was one of the earliest direct conflicts between the two sides.
For an activity focused on the causes of the American Revolutionary War, why not try these fact cards designed just for this?
The lead-up to the Battle of Bunker Hill can be viewed with a succession of key events, including the Boston Tea Party in 1773, where colonial protestors threw cargos of tea into the Boston harbor in protest over taxation issues.
If you would like some inspiration for activities based on the Boston Tea Party, then why not try this presentation or this flipbook?
This escalated the British response to the colonies by enacting a series of harsh laws known as the "Intolerable Acts," which were as follows:

Town meetings were restricted.

British soldiers were to be tried in Britain, not the colonies.

Compensation was to be given to the British government for the loss of cargo in the Boston Tea Party.

British troops could be housed in the homes of citizens without their consent.

This further inflamed the colonists, which then led to Massachusetts being declared in open rebellion against the Crown by the British government. Orders were issued to quell the rebels by disarming them and arresting their leaders. The first military engagements were the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Colonists laid siege to the British-controlled port city of Boston and expelled royal officials while establishing provincial congresses for the thirteen colonies, laying the foundations for full independence.

The retaliation from the British in retaking Boston from the rebels would be the beginning of the Battle of Bunker Hill, read on for details:

June 17, 1775, The Battle of Bunker Hill

Before the Battle

General Sir Thomas Gage was in charge of some 3,000 British soldiers in the city of Boston and planned to use the surrounding hills for their tactical advantage as cannon batteries to fire on the colonial forces which had laid siege to the city of Boston.

However, the word of this plan got out to Colonel William Prescott, leader of some 2,400 American militia forces which he immediately used to take Bunker Hill on the evening of Jun 16, 1775. Using darkness for cover, his men built fortifications, or "redoubts*" on top of the hill to stop the British from gaining an immediate tactical advantage.

* are temporary or makeshift fortifications usually constructed out of wood and earthworks sometimes outside of a main fort or by themselves to provide temporary cover for infantry.

The British soon realized what the Americans were up to and fired their land artillery and ship cannons at the newly built fortifications on Bunker Hill. However, they could not get accurate shots on the militia, and the fortifications held with minimal casualties.

The British commanders met on the morning of June 17th and agreed an assault was the best course of action to now take against the rebels.

During the Battle

Gage sent his first wave of well-trained British troops advanced up the hill in formation towards the militia's redoubt. Legend says that Col. Prescott orders his men not to shoot at the British until they can "see the whites of their eyes". As the first volley of fire is opened on the British, they immediately suffer heavy casualties, causing the first assault to falter and the British to retreat.

Undeterred, Gen. Gage orders a second assault on Bunker Hill, and once again his troops advance upwards only to suffer heavy casualties from the militia's musket and gunfire.
The type of flintlock musket that would have been used in the Battle of Bunker Hill.
With considerably more manpower than the defenders, Gen. Gage was confident that this would prove to be their winning hand, so he again sent his troops up the hill to take the American's position. This time the British were able to advance inside the redoubt as the Americans were low on gunpowder and ammunition. As they stormed the fort, they were met by fierce hand-to-hand combat and at this point were only able to instill any considerable number of casualties on the defenders.

The colonists were able to successfully retreat out of Bunker Hill into Cambridge even taking most of their wounded with them, only leaving the most mortally wounded.

The Aftermath

Even though the British effectively won by seizing the American's position and causing them to retreat, the Battle of Bunker Hill has gone down in history as a victory for the Americans due to the large number of casualties inflicted on the better-trained, better-equipped, and larger number of British forces.

The British lost well over 200 men including many officers and suffered a further 800 casualties. Compared to the American losses of around 115 killed and 300 wounded. The true numbers are as follows:

Three weeks after the Battle of Bunker Hill, George Washington arrived in Cambridge Massachusetts to take charge of the continental army and the British would eventually go on to evacuate Boston the following year, leaving all thirteen colonies under the control of the revolutionists.

Who won the Battle of Bunker Hill?

While the British were successful in taking Bunker Hill and driving out the American militia, the Battle of Bunker Hill has gone down in history as a victory for the revolutionists as the loss of life, amount of casualties sustained and the number of officers lost by the British in the process was so great in contrast to the minimal losses the Americans sustained can be seen as a victory for them.

This "victory" the Americans found, is what is known as a "Pyrrhic victory", so-called after Pyrrhus of Epirus, an ancient Greek King whose victory over the Romans in the Battle of Asculum in 279 B.C.E. was at such a great loss to his own forces he was forced to abandon his campaign. The Battle of Bunker Hill is regarded by historians as a great example of a Pyrrhic victory.

Interesting Facts About the Battle of Bunker Hill for Kids

Despite being called "The Battle of Bunker Hill", the battle didn't actually take place on Bunker Hill! The main fighting was concentrated on Breed Hill, which was close by and was only referred to as the Battle of Bunker Hill because of confusion about where it was located.

One of the British officers killed in the grisly hand-to-hand fighting was Major John Pitcairn, who was allegedly responsible for ordering his men to open fire on the Patriots at the battle of Lexington and Concord in the previous weeks.

You can visit the site of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts today, where a 221-ft granite obelisk acts as a monument to the battle.

Famously, the words "don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes" have been attributed to Col. Israel Putnam, but in more recent decades Col. William Prescott was put forward as a more realistic candidate for saying them. However, historians question whether or not this line was actually said at all, and instead propose it was the words of Mason Weem in his book Life of George Washington.

When word reached England of the Battle of Lexington and Concord the King dispatched extra troops to the thirteen colonies that arrived in May 1775.

The Battle of Bunker Hill is estimated to have lasted just over two hours long, beginning sometime in the afternoon and ending on the evening of June 17, 1775.

The Battle of Bunker Hill was actually witnessed by thousands of civilians who watched from their balconies and rooftops in Boston and neighboring hills in the surrounding area.

Of the British officers who died in the battle, included were: 1 Lieutenant Colonel, 2 Majors, 7 Captains, 9 Lieutenants, and 15 Sergeants.

After the Battle of Bunker Hill, the colonists sent the "Olive Branch Petition" to Great Britain in a last attempt to avoid any more conflict with them, but King George III is reported to have refused to even read it before declaring the colonists in open rebellion.

Historians estimate if British forces had sealed off the bottleneck to the Charlestown Peninsula, rather than directly storming the hill, the outcomes could have been vastly different.

The American militia forces were mostly regular colonists who had taken up arms in response to the heavy-handed British governance of the thirteen colonies. They had limited military training and weren't as well supplied or equipped as the British.

Teaching Resources Related to the Battle of Bunker Hill for Kids

American Revolution Timeline PDF: This printable wall poster has the entire timeline of the American Revolution for display on classroom, school, or even bedroom walls. It details all the key events leading up to, during, and after the American Revolution. This will make it a great way for students to see the major events chronologically and aid in any study on this period of U.S. history.

Thirteen Colonies: Characteristics of the Three Regions - New England Colonies Large Information Poster: Accompany any display wall about early U.S. history with this informational poster about the thirteen colonies, focusing on New England. It details the religion, climate, and economy of the early colonies in easy-to-understand segments.

American Revolution Flipbook Research Project: With the knowledge gained on the Battle of Bunker Hill in this Teaching Wiki, students can write about it in the "specific event/battle" segment of this interactive resource. Students must cut out and assemble this flipbook and fill in the segments accordingly.

American Revolution Presentation - PowerPoint & Google Slides: This presentation is a good way to start social studies lessons on the American Revolution. It can easily be presented to your class on either Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides (whichever you prefer) and various activities, assignments, and worksheets can be done by students after they have been armed with the knowledge!

American Revolution 13 Colonies Map Labeling Activity: For more work focusing on the thirteen colonies, this map labeling activity can be done to build students' geographic knowledge and understanding of the American Revolution. Why not try and locate the location of the Battle of Bunker Hill on the map?

Revolutionary War Vocabulary Mat: This vocabulary mat has a load of words related directly to the American Revolution including the Battle of Bunker Hill. This can be used to familiarize students with the vocabulary and to inspire themes and key events of the war in essays or other work on the subject.

Thirteen Colonies Quiz with Questions and Answers: This fun activity focuses on the thirteen colonies and tests students' knowledge on the subject with a follow-up quiz. It can be presented with either Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides for the whole class to participate in, either by putting their hands up or by writing the answers down on answer sheets as individuals or in groups.

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Battle of Bunker Hill for Kids | Social Studies | Twinkl USA

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For Kids: By 1770, although some colonists were still loyal to the crown, many others were upset about the taxes and the troops and the disregard the British Parliament had shown for the needs of the American colonists. Jobs were lost. British troops were arrogant. And monies were tight. Taxation without representation was the cry heard everywhere. Tension was growing.

Fights often broke out between the British soldiers and the colonists. On March 5, 1770, a group of sailors threw snowballs and sticks at a group of British soldiers. Things got crazy. A club was thrown. The British felt threatened. They fired into the crown. When it was over, five colonial men were dead, including Crispus Attucks . He was the first man to die in what would soon become the Revolutionary War. This incident was called the Boston Massacre.

The British officers involved were arrested for murder by the colonial government in Boston. The officers pleaded self-defense, and the jury agreed. They were not charged with murder. However, two British soldiers were charged with manslaughter. Their hands were branded, burned, and then they were released. To the British, that was it. It was over. To the colonists, not so much.

This incident became a propaganda tool for colonists who were unhappy with the way Britain was treating the colonists. About three weeks after the massacre, Paul Revere distributed prints from an etching he made that showed the British as the aggressors in the Boston Massacre. Paul Revere hired an artist to draw the illustration. He created the etching from the artist's drawing. It was very effective. It was also misleading. It showed the British shooting muskets into a group of innocent colonists, with clouds of smoke and bloodied bodies on the ground. There is a small dog in the front middle of the picture that appeared unharmed, perhaps to imply the British treated the colonists worse than dogs. Blown up to its actual size and in its entirety, you can see even more detail: Paul Revere image, Boston Massacre

In truth, according to witnesses at the trial of the British, it was the colonists who threw snowballs and waved sticks and swung clubs. In colonial law as well as in British law, you had the right to defend yourself if you felt yourself threatened. The British most certainly felt threatened. Still, snowballs vs. musket balls? It was a mess.

After the Boston Massacre, British Parliament repealed all taxes except the one on tea.

The colonists heaved a sign of relief. Most merchants stopped their boycott of British goods. But colonial leaders were still unhappy with the way the British were treating the colonists. They did not believe that British Parliament had the colonists best interests at heart.

Liberty Kids: John Adams and the Boston Massacre (cartoon video)

The Boston Massacre for Kids, interactives
Quiz: Causes of the American Revolution, interactive
What came before: The Townshend Acts, 1767

What came after: The Boston Tea Party, 1773

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The American Revolution for Kids - Boston Massacre

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For Kids: By 1770, although some colonists were still loyal to the crown, many others were upset about the taxes and the troops and the disregard the British Parliament had shown for the needs of the American colonists. Jobs were lost. British troops were arrogant. And monies were tight.

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The Townshend Duties, formally known as the Townshend Acts, was a tax passed by the British. It was named for Charles Townshend, who was the British Prime Minister at the time. He spearheaded the acts, but he died before the detrimental effects were clear. In 1776, he was hanged in effigy, which means a doll was made to represent him and it was hanged in the town square in Boston. It taxed all imported goods. E.g tea, food, anything that was imported. Townshend wanted the duties to make sure the colonists knew that they were under British rule. The acts were resisted in the Thirteen Colonies.

Images for kids

Charles Townshend spearheaded the laws, but died before their detrimental effects became apparent.

Non-importation agreement, dated October 1767, signed by Bostonians including Paul Revere

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The Townshend Acts (or the Townshend Act) refers to a set of taxes passed by Parliament in 1767 after the Stamp Act caused rebellion and riots on both sides of the Atlantic.

The colonists especially were infuriated and boycotted British goods.

The ring leaders of the boycott were Samuel Adams and John Dickinson. Their actions forced King George to repeal the Stamp Act.

Directly afterwards, in Parliament, a man named Charles Townshend, suggested what is now known as the Townshend Acts, taxing the colonies for tea, glass, lead, paints, and paper.

Charles Townshend, painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds around 1765<. There's a lot of Charles Townshends. It was difficult to find the right one. | Image is in the public domain.
The Stamp Act, which taxed an even wider selection of products, had been imposed to service the debt Britain had accumulated during the French and Indian War, which King George and most of Parliament felt had been fought to the great benefit of the colonists. Thus, they believed the colonies should help carry the expenses of the war.

Thus, the colonies could not object to these taxes, being much less than the Stamp Act and simply paying for Britain's defense of the colonies. Or so the king thought; the colonies completely objected. When the king sent his troops over to make sure they paid these new taxes, it stirred up opposition and boycotts.

The Townshend Acts and the Boston Tea Party

The Townshend Acts were repealed early in 1773, but their taxes on tea remained in force. In fact, the colonists had been boycotting British tea since their passing in 1767. So when the Tea Act, passed in May of that year, allowed the Dutch East India Company to deliver tea at reduced tax rates and without duties, it put the colonists over the edge.

In November, when a large shipment of East India Company tea arrived, colonists dressed up as Indians threw thousands of pounds worth of British tea into Boston harbor, an event we know as the Boston Tea Party.

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The Townshend Acts | Facts, Information & History

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The Townshend Acts refers to a set of taxes passed by Parliament in 1767 after the Stamp Act caused riots on both sides of the Atlantic. Click for more.

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The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.

The colonists built an alarm system to warn them if the British were coming.

The British army was coming to get guns from Massachusetts, but colonists knew so they started fighting with British soldiers.

The battles started on Lexington Green and then moved to Concord Village.

 Listen, my children, and you shall hear
 Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
 On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five:
 Hardly a man is now alive
 Who remembers that famous day and year.
Paul Revere's Ride Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Causes

Since 1764, Great Britain has passed many laws that generated a lot of anger. They include the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, and Townshend Acts. Keep reading to learn more Battles of Lexington and Concord facts.

One city where there was a lot of resistance was Boston which had two big events -the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.

So in June 1774, King George III made Boston harbor closed until people paid for tea dumped overboard from a year before.

What was happening in Massachusetts?

In 1774, the British Parliament appointed Thomas Gage as Royal Governor of Massachusetts. He was supposed to stop rising unrest in the colonies caused by British laws.

But he made it worse and tried to punish colonists who did things that defied King George, like dumping tea in Boston Harbor. The Coercive Acts were a series of laws he wrote to help him keep order and punish colonists.

By April 1775, Gage saw that the colonists were starting to rebel. He ordered for all weapons and powder in Concord to be seized. But he underestimated his enemies.

April 18, 1775

An American doctor called Joseph Warren learned that British troops were about to march that night from his source. He sent two couriers to tell people of this news.

They went by different ways so they would not get caught. Paul Revere crossed the river by boat, and William Dawes went along other roads. If one of them was caught, the other would get the message across and vice versa.

The patriots had to look at the steeple of the Old North Church. If there was one lantern hanging in the steeple, then British soldiers were coming by land. If there were two, then they came by sea.

Revere passed through the towns of Somerville, Medford, and Menotomy. People fired their guns, so the church bells rang to warn about the coming threat.

As Revere carried out his mission in Charlestown, Dawes left Boston and traveled along the Boston Neck peninsula. The two met up in Lexington, a few miles east of Concord.

Later Revere was captured by a British patrol, while Dawes was thrown from his horse and forced to proceed back on foot back to Lexington.

We set off for Concord, and were overtaken by a young gentleman named Prescot, who belonged to Concord, and was going home. When we had got about half way from Lexington to Concord, the other two stopped at a house to awake the men, I kept along... In an instant I saw four of them, who rode up to me with their pistols in their bands... We attempted to get through them, but they kept before us, and swore if we did not turn in to that pasture, they would blow our brains out...

Just as I reached it, out started six officers, seized my bridle, put their pistols to my breast, ordered me to dismount, which I did. - Paul Revere, "Account of Midnight Ride to Lexington" (1775)

Paul Revere's Ride

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote a famous poem that took inspiration from these historic events. But he took some poetic license to write it. Here are some of the most famous lines:

 He said to his friend, "If the British march
 By land or sea from the town to-night,
 Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
 Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,-
 One if by land, and two if by sea;
 And I on the opposite shore will be,
 Ready to ride and spread the alarm
 Through every Middlesex village and farm,
 For the country-folk to be up and to arm."

"The British are coming!"

Nowadays, people think Paul Revere shouted, "The British are coming!" as he rode on his horse. This is false. He tried to be quiet so the British wouldn't notice anything.

The Battle of Lexington

The British saw a small group of men who were in charge of protecting the town. They were led by John Parker.

The Battle of Concord

The British then went to search for guns in Concord. It was already 8 am.

British commanders Francis Smith and John Pitcairn ordered 220 people to take the North Bridge across the Concord River. They then continued on another mile to Barrett Farm, where they found weapons and powder.

The British didn't know that most of the guns had been moved, so they burned what they found.

Some people from Concord and the towns around got together on a high hill. They saw smoke coming out of Concord.

They thought that British soldiers were burning down the town. Captain Davis the first to confront them by saying, "I don't have any men who are afraid."

When Davis's company came close to the British, they started firing and killed Davis. The colonists fired back, killing three British soldiers and wounding nine others.

This is considered the shot heard round the world that caused the redcoats to retreat into town.

The "shot heard round the world"

Someone then shot what was called the "shot heard round the world". It was called like that in a famous poem written by Ralph Waldo Emerson. This is the beginning of the poem:

 By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
 Their flag to April's breeze unfurled,
 Here once the embattled farmers stood,
 And fired the shot heard round the world.

But in the end, the British left because it was hard to stay there.

Smith and Pitcairn order a return to Boston. For 12 more miles, Smith, Pitcairn, and their men were ambushed by colonists shooting from behind trees, rock walls, and buildings.

When the British reinforcements got to Smith and Pitcairn's men, they were still being pursued.

The British soldiers had not slept for two days and had marched for 64km in 21 hours. They were very exhausted. The British soldiers killed people because they were so tired from marching without sleep for so long.

The British soldiers ran away but then got to the ships with guns. The Patriots chased them but didn't know what to do so they let them go.

The British lost 73 men and 174 were wounded when they reached Boston. The Americans lost 49 men and 41 were wounded that day.

Soldiers back then

British soldiers went to Lexington at a time when most people are still sleeping. The British soldiers were called "regulars" or sometimes "red coats" because they wore red uniforms.

Some British soldiers were armed with muskets and bayonets. But many American militias had their own guns, which were light and easy to use.

Colonial militias (people who defend other people) were made up of people to defend settlers from civil unrest and attacks by French or Native Americans. People in the militia called "minutemen" could be ready for a battle in a minute's time.

What happened afterward?

Americans understood the big fights that happened in Lexington and Concord. They were angry at the British because they had killed people in America.

Radicals such as Sam Adams used this anger to spread propaganda and make people more frustrated with the British. The Americans surrounded Boston and started to get many new recruits for their army.

A man called Ezekiel Russell from Salem, Massachusetts quickly made a poster called "Bloody Butchery by the British Troops". This poster detailed the fights and America's losses.

He wanted to make sure that these important events were not forgotten so he urged people to remember them.

June 17, 1775

The British army defeated the Americans in the Battle of Bunker Hill. They only had a few casualties because they were stronger than the patriots fighting them.

Consequences of the battles

John Adams said that these battles were the moment when it was clear what would happen. They showed that American citizen soldiers could stand up to redcoats, which people did not know before then.

The revolution was about to begin. Tensions were high. The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the spark to light the fire.

By that summer, there was a full-scale war. Later America became its own country and got its independence on July 4, 1776.
Read more about the American Revolution
Sources

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Battles of Lexington and Concord | History, American Revolutionary War

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The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolutionary War. Started on Lexington Green then moved to Concord.

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Paul Revere was born in the North End of Boston on December 21, 1734. Although Revere originated from the middling sort, through his membership in St. Andrews Lodge of Freemasons, he made connections with a number of people who later became the founding members of the Loyal Nine. Although he was not a member of the Loyal Nine, it is believed that he assisted this predecessor organization of the Sons of Liberty in leading political protests against Parliament's authority to tax the colonies. While he was not known for exceptional oratory, he was a master of propaganda, and his works helped the Sons of Liberty galvanize support for their dissident cause.

Resisting Taxation Without Representation

In August of 1765, Paul Revere participated in the Stamp Act Riots in response to the impending Stamp Act that was to take effect in the coming months. During these riots, the mob tore down the houses of government officials, including the house of Lieutenant Governor and Chief Justice Thomas Hutchinson. While these riots were viewed in a negative light by Parliament, the now apparent unpopularity of the Stamp Act in British North America forced its repeal. Following swiftly on the heels of the Stamp Act's repeal was the passage of the Declaratory Act in 1766, further asserting Parliament's right to tax the colonies. From this point forward, Paul Revere dedicated himself to the production of engravings which highlighted the excesses of the British government, and the unpopularity of their laws in Boston.

On October 1, 1768, two thousand British regulars arrived in Boston. Paul Revere rendered his first of many engravings which, in a subtle manner, detailed the ill effects of British imperial policy in North America. In his engraving of the arrival of British troops, Revere included towering church steeples along Boston's skyline as evidence of the town's orderly and religious origins. To the viewer of the eighteenth century, this made the arrival of British regulars even more offensive. If Boston was capable of managing its own affairs, then why were two thousand regulars quartered in the town?

The Boston Massacre

As time passed, tensions between the occupying force of British regulars and the town of Boston mounted. On March 5, 1770, these tensions resulted in the deaths of five unarmed Boston civilians on King Street. This tragedy later became known as the Boston Massacre. Henry Pelham produced an engraving that was later copied and sensationalized by Paul Revere entitled the Bloody Massacre Perpetrated in King Street. In this engraving, Revere depicted Captain Thomas Preston standing behind his soldiers of the 29th regiment, implying that he ordered them to fire into the crowd-which was later refuted during the Boston Massacre Trial. In addition, Ebenezer Richardson was shown firing his buckshot into the crowd (which had happened only a few weeks prior on February 22, 1770, resulting in the death of Christopher Sneider), and a storefront labeled "Butcher's Hall" as to appeal to the viewer's perception of the British Army as brutal oppressors.

Revere's Revolutionary Propaganda

These examples of propaganda did much to convince the public of Parliament's flawed colonial policies. In the years that followed, Paul Revere, and the leaders of the Sons of Liberty did everything in their power to keep the memory of the Boston Massacre alive. On March 5, 1771, only one year after the massacre, Paul Revere staged an elaborate public demonstration from his home in the North End. From the windows of his home, he displayed various scenes of the Boston Massacre. In one of his windows, he displayed the ghost of young Christopher Sneider along with the names of the five men that fell on King Street. A second window depicted the soldiers of the 29th regiment firing into the crowd, and the third window displayed lady liberty with one foot on the head of a British Grenadier, and her finger pointing toward the window displaying the massacre.

Paul Revere's Ride

These various forms of propaganda had a profound effect on the people of Boston, and were instrumental in persuading the citizenry that the struggle for liberty was a just cause. In the years that followed, the leaders of the patriots would discover other useful talents in Paul Revere. Following the Boston Tea Party, he was dispatched to New York and Philadelphia to inform the Sons of Liberty in those towns of Boston's resistance to the Tea Act. In addition, he was sent by Dr. Joseph Warren to alert the countryside of British regular troop movements on the evening of April 18, 1775, the day before the Battle of Lexington-Concord. While Paul Revere has widely been credited with the midnight ride, other riders were dispatched to raise the alarm of the approaching British Army. His place in history would be solidified by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who canonized Revere as the lone midnight rider in an 1860 poem entitled "Paul Revere's Ride."

Legacy & Leadership

While Paul Revere is best remembered for his horsemanship, his most important contributions came from his hammer and chisel. His ability to appeal to the sensibilities of colonial subjects through the works of his copper engravings, and vigils demonstrated the power of propaganda. After the War of Independence, Revere expanded his business to open an iron foundry in the North End of Boston making utilitarian cast iron products that were useful and widely consumed by the local populace. He also opened a copper mill which produced bells for churches, rolled copper for the hulls of wooden ships, along with copper bolts and spikes that were useful to Boston's burgeoning ship industry. All of this demonstrated that Paul Revere was a man of many talents and a true revolutionary, and was therefore indispensable to Boston's success in resisting the authority of the British Parliament, and King George III.

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Paul Revere was an early revolutionary from Boston who made a number of key connections with leaders of the Loyal Nine and Sons of Liberty.

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A stamp act is a law that puts a tax on the transfer of some documents. Those that pay the tax get an official stamp on their documents. Many products have been covered by stamp acts such as playing cards, patent medicines, cheques, mortgages, contracts and newspapers. The items often have to be physically stamped at approved government offices following payment of the duty, although other methods with annual payment of a fixed sum or purchase of adhesive stamps are more practical and common. Stamp acts have been made common in many countries, like Australia, China, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The money raised by the tax, called stamp duty, was first used in the Netherlands in 1624 after a public competition to find a new form of tax. However, it has more been used in Great Britain and its colonies.

The Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament on March 22, 1765 was upsetting to some American colonists. Colonists had to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper they used - ship's papers, legal documents, licences, newspapers and even playing cards were taxed. It was one of the causes of the American Revolutionary War.

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Long title

An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several acts of parliament relating to the trade and revenues of the said colonies and plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned.

Statute book chapter

5 George III, c. 12

Introduced by

The Right Honourable George Grenville, MP
Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Leader of the House of Commons

Territorial extent

British America and the British West Indies

Dates

Royal Assent

22 March 1765

Commencement

1 November 1765

Repeal date

18 March 1766

Other legislation

Related legislation
Declaratory Act

Repealing legislation

Act Repealing the Stamp Act 1766

Status: Repealed

The Stamp Act of 1765 was made by the parliament in 1765, that affected things like paper and prints or any legal document, and needed to be payed in British currency. To show that they paid, every paper had to have a revenue stamp on it. The purpose of the tax was to pay for troops in North America after the British victory in the Seven Years' War and the French and Indian War.

Images for kids

New Hampshire Gazette, October 31, 1765 issue, with black borders, protesting the coming of the Stamp Act

A 1765 broadside regarding the resignation of Andrew Oliver under the Liberty Tree

In Spanish: Ley del sello para niños

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"Savages may indeed be a formidable enemy to your raw American militia; but upon the king's regular and disciplined troops, Sir, it is impossible they should make an impression."
Those were British General Edward Braddock's last words to Benjamin Franklin when he had been warned about the native Americans. Britian and France were fighting over land around the Ohio River and Mississippi River. This went on from 1754 to 1763.

The costs of the French Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War (for its eruption into a worldwide conflict in 1756), led to the the passing of the "Stamp Act," by Parliament in 1765.

General Braddock killed July 9, 1755 at the Battle of Monongahela
Britain Finances the War

Britain was indebted millions of dollars due after funding the war that obtained the land that is now Canada, the Mississippi River valley, and the Ohio River valley.

Britain was in desperate straits trying to pay off the banks they owed for this funding. Parliament gathered, trying to think of ways to pay this off.

Finally, on February 6, 1765, George Grenville presented a bill to Parliament. This bill suggested that they tax the colonies in young America for the "protection" Britain had provided and was providing. The bill called for the stationing of 10,000 troops along the Applachian frontier to safeguard British possessions, but their greatest concern was their huge national debt.

The bill was passed on February 17th of that year. They called it the Stamp Act. This act taxed virtually every piece of paper that passed through the colonies, from newspapers to legal documents and even including playing cards and dice. Americans objected to paying a tax to play cards, write messages, and even play games with dice.

Colonial and British Response to the Stamp Act

The act applied not only to colonists but to England as well. In Britain, these acts would sometimes get so out of hand that riots would be the product of the taxation.

In America, the Stamp Act first produced the cry, "No taxation without representation."

British citizens were only to be taxed by their representatives. Thus, the Virginia House of Burgesses, at the instigation of Patrick Henry, passed the Stamp Act Resolves, declaring all taxes illegal unless imposed by the House of Burgesses.

In response, Virginian British governor simply dissolved the House of Burgesses, but to no avail. Angry Virginians met George Mercer, the tax collector, and intimidated him into resigning.

New York then held a Stamp Act Congress and issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances.

The Stamp Act is Repealed

The Stamp Act had a short lifespan.

Parliament repealed the Act in February, 1766, although it also issued the "Declatory Act," officially stating England's right to tax American colonies "in all cases whatsoever."

The Stamp Act was replaced in 1767 by the Townshend Acts, a different set of taxes also meant to service England's debt from the French and Indian War.

Opposing Opinions on the Floor of Parliament

Col. Isaac foore, obviously before his injury We had to include this very interesting exchange between Charles Townshend, who would later be author of the Townshend Acts, and Col. Isaac foore, as reported by Virginia representative Jared Ingersoll. Colonel foore was a member of Parliament who had fought in America during the Seven Years War, receiving injuries that left him blind in one eye and severely scarred on his face.
Discussion on the Floor of Parliament
Charles Townshend:
And now will these Americans, children planted by our care, nourished up by our Indulgence until they are grown to a degree of strength and opulence, and protected by our arms, will they grudge to contribute their mite to relieve us from heavy weight of the burden which we lie under?
Colonel Isaac foore:
They planted by your care? No! Your oppression planted 'em in America. They fled from your tyranny to a then uncultivated and unhospitable country where they exposed themselves to almost all the hardships to which human nature is liable, and among others to the cruelties of a savage foe, the most subtle, and I take upon me to say, the most formidable of any people upon the face of God's earth. And yet, actuated by principles of true English liberty, they met all these hardships with pleasure, compared with those they suffered in their own country, from the hands of those who should have been their friends.

They nourished by your indulgence? They grew by your neglect of 'em. As soon as you began to care about ?em, that care was exercised in sending persons to rule over 'em, in one department and another, who were perhaps the deputies of deputies to some member of this house, sent to spy out their liberty, to misrepresent their actions and to prey upon 'em; men whose behaviour on many occasions has caused the blood of those sons of liberty to recoil within them: men promoted to the highest seats of justice; some who to my knowledge were glad by going to a foreign country to escape being brought to the foo of a court of justice in their own.

They protected by your arms? They have nobly taken up arms in your defence, have exerted a valour amidst their constant and laborious industry for the defence of a country whose frontier while drenched in blood, its interior parts have yielded all its little savings to your emolument. And believe me, remember I this day told you so, that same spirit of freedom which actuated that people at first, will accompany them still. But prudence forbids me to explain myself further. God knows I do not at this time speak from motives of party heat; what I deliver are the genuine sentiments of my heart; however superior to me in general knowledge and experience the reputable body of this House may be, yet I claim to know more of America than most of you, having seen and been conversant in that country. The people I believe are as truly loyal as any subjects the king has, but a people jealous of their liberties and who will vindicate them if ever they should be violated; but the subject is too delicate and I will say no more. [1]

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The Stamp Act of 1765 | Facts, Information, History & Meaning

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The Stamp Act of 1765 was an attempt by Britain to relieve its national debt after the French Indian War. Click for even more facts.

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This is a full biography on Paul Revere.

Paul Revere was born on January 1, 1735, in Boston, Massachusetts. Revere was a prosperous Boston silversmith, engraver and an American Patriot during the American Revolution. Paul Revere is best known for his "Midnight Ride," to warn the Colonial militia and Sons of Liberty of the arrival of the British soldiers before the battles of Lexington and Concord.

Iconic Propaganda engraved by Paul Revere following the 1770 Boston Massacre

Revere's Warning

On April 7, 1775, British soldiers began moving towards the city of Concord where a large supply of Patriot arms was being stored. Joseph Warren sent Paul Revere, a messenger, to warn the Provincial Congress of Massachusetts of the British troop movements towards Concord. Soon after Revere's warning was received, the citizens of Concord began quickly moving the Patriot militia supplies to a safer location.

Midnight Ride

On April 18, 1775, Joseph Warren once again sent Paul Revere to deliver a secret message to the Patriot militia. The British troops had plans to capture two of the two leaders of the Sons of Liberty, John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Revere set out on horseback that fateful night to deliver a warning message to all who he passed. In popular culture, his message has evolved into the timeless words, "The British are coming, The British are coming." In reality, however, Revere likely never actually shouted such words because his mission was a secret. He more likely shouted "The Regulars are Coming Out" according to his own recollection. Revere's "Midnight Ride" was successful because he was able alert Adams and Hancock of their potential capture. Revere's message also alerted the Patriot militia of the British troop's movements towards Lexington and Concord. Revere and other patriots were soon captured by the British. Revere told the British militia of the Patriot troops movements and plans. Once the British heard the bells ringing and the plans of the Patriot defense they set Revere and the other captured Patriots free and retreated to warn their commanders of the Patriot defenses.

Back to Silversmithing

Paul Revere remained an active American Patriot for most of his adult life and settled back into his life as a silversmith after the Revolution. He died on May 8, 1818.

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Paul Revere was born on January 1, 1735, in Boston, Massachusetts. Revere was a prosperous Boston silversmith, engraver and an American Patriot during the American Revolution.

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Learn about the life and achievements of the first president of the United States.

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Learn George Washington's real birth date, the material his teeth were made of, his entrepreneurial spirit and more with these fun facts.

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Download FREE teacher-made resources covering 'George Washington'

All About George Washington for Kids

George Washington (1732 - 1799) was the first president of the United States, serving two full terms of four years each. He was unanimously elected with the support of the electoral college because of his accomplishments during the American Revolution.

What is George Washington famous for?

George Washington is often called the "Father of His Country."

He was a Founding Father, presiding over the Constitutional Convention of 1787. At this convention, the U.S. Constitution was established.

His leadership forged a path for the United States as an independent, democratic nation. Many traditions he established continue to this day at the highest levels of government.

You simply cannot explore the long and storied history of the United States without talking about George Washington. As the first person to lead and represent the nation, he left his mark on its political and cultural landscape.

Teaching Wiki Contents

Click on these subheadings to take you to a specific part of this Teaching Wiki:

George Washington's Early Life

When and where was George Washington born?

George Washington was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on February 11, 1731. His family owned a plantation, and they were rich from owning land and growing tobacco.

He was the oldest of his full siblings, but he did have older half-siblings.

Wait a minute!

If George Washington was born on February 11, why do we celebrate Washington's Birthday (or Presidents Day) on February 22?

The answer to this is a tricky one.

Washington actually has two birthdays. We switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar during his lifetime. His birthday was moved forward a year and a few days to February 22, 1732.

If only we could all be so lucky to become a year younger overnight!

Who were George Washington's parents?

George Washington's parents were Augustine Washington and Mary Ball Washington.

His father, Augustine, was a planter, landowner, and enslaver. He also held a position as a justice of the county court.

What was George Washington's childhood like?

Not much is known about George Washington's childhood.

His father, Augustine, died when George was only eleven years old. He left his older sons a sizeable inheritance of land, goods, and enslaved workers. George Washington and his siblings received enough to live on.

It is thought that his childhood was spent helping his mother manage the plantation.

Where was George Washington educated?

Most of his peers in Virginia received a formal education, but the same was not true of Washington. Although his older half-brothers attended a grammar school in England, the family did not have enough money to send George there.

He likely had private tutors at home and possibly attended a local school, but his education ended at age 15.

He did not attend college, but he did show an aptitude for mathematics. This led him to a career as a land surveyor.

George Washington and the Revolutionary War

Was George Washington a general?

George Washington had previous battle experience during the French and Indian War. This conflict was one part of the Seven Years' War, a worldwide conflict that involved France, Britain, and their colonies.

Because of this previous experience, he was made Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution.

What was the American Revolution?

There is a lot to learn about the American Revolution, but here's a quick overview.

The American Revolution was when the colonies sought their freedom from English power. It came about partially because of the Seven Years' War raging in Europe.

Although Great Britain won and forced France to give up its North American territories, war is expensive. The American colonies were taxed more heavily to pay for it - unfairly so.

Protest groups formed (including the secret Sons of Liberty) until the taxes ended. However, they were followed by other restrictions in the Townshend Acts, which fanned the flames of an uprising.

Other Intolerable Acts included the Quartering Act, the Administration of Justice Act, and the Massachusetts Government Act.

Did you know?

George Washington himself described the Administration of Justice Act as a "Murder Act." He believed that it would allow British officials in the United States to literally get away with murder.

The American Revolution began when the First Congressional Congress wrote to King George III. They explained the issues the colonies had. Their requests were ignored, leading to trade boycotts.

When British soldiers arrived, the colonists were prepared to meet them. Although nobody on either side expected to fight, the Battles of Lexington and Concord began after an unexpected shot was fired. The colonists overpowered the British Army, forcing them to retreat to Boston.

What did George Washington do during the American Revolution?

George Washington was the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, but his job was not easy. That army was underfed, undermanned, and underprepared. They faced many defeats from the British soldiers, which had the advantage of wealth and experience.

But Washington used what he could, withdrawing from battles he couldn't win, and waging a war of attrition.

In 1776, he launched a successful surprise attack on a band of mercenaries on Christmas. He and his army crossed the Delaware River in the dead of winter to attack the enemy camp.

Later in the revolution, which lasted eight years, the French allied with the battered colonists to push back the British, establishing the nation's independence with the Treaty of Paris.

The Presidency of George Washington

When did George Washington become the president?

George Washington became the first president of the United States on April 30, 1789. His vice president was John Adams.

He took his oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City.

Where did George Washington live?

During George Washington's time as president, there was no White House. Instead, he lived in rented homes in the nation's capital...

No, not Washington, D.C.!

At the time, the capital moved between New York and Philadelphia. This meant that Washington spent time in both cities during his presidency.

What did George Washington do in his presidency?

As the president of the United States, George Washington had a monumental task in front of him. Everything that he did would set the standard for future presidents and governments to come. Every little action could affect the growth of a new nation.

Here are just a few of Washington's accomplishments and achievements as president:

He signed a bill that chose a location for the capital of the United States: along the Potomac River, in an area that would later become Washington, D.C.

Washington supported Alexander Hamilton's request to create a national bank for the United States.

He declared the United States to be neutral in future conflicts between Great Britain and France. This was known as the Proclamation of Neutrality.

During Washington's time as president, he nominated the first chief justice of the Supreme Court.

He also signed the first Thanksgiving proclamation, turning November 26 into an annual celebration and national holiday.

Traditions like having a presidential cabinet began during Washington's time.

What are three interesting facts about George Washington's presidency?

1. After his second inauguration, Washington's address to the nation was only 135 words long. This is the shortest one ever delivered!

2. One of the earliest acts signed by George Washington was the Copyright Act of 1790, which would be the first of many laws protecting copyright in the United States.

3. George Washington is the only president to have never lived in the White House. It wasn't built yet, but he did oversee its construction. He also chose the location where it would be constructed.

George Washington and Slavery

Generations of Washington's family owned and benefited from the work of enslaved laborers, and George Washington himself was no exception.

As mentioned previously, his father died when he was only 11 years old. This led to him inheriting ten enslaved workers at a young age.

However, as an enslaver, he participated in the trade and exploitation of people throughout his life.

Even though Washington voiced public and private concerns about slavery later in life, he never stopped participating in it. By his death in 1799, he and his wife enslaved 317 people between them.

It is also important to note that George Washington signed the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793. This allowed enslavers to arrest enslaved workers who were trying to escape. It also made it illegal to help someone trying to escape slavery.

His will declared that all the enslaved people he owned should be set free upon his death, but with certain restrictions. One of these required them to serve his wife until her death. It would be several years until most of them were fully emancipated.

Later Life and Legacy

What did George Washington do after his presidency?

After retiring as the president of the United States, George Washington lived for only two years. He returned to his home of Mount Vernon and dedicated the rest of his life to making the farms functional and profitable.

In 1799, Washington was briefly called upon to be the commander again, but his role was symbolic and ceremonial.

Who was George Washington's wife?

George Washington's wife was Martha Dandridge Custis Washington. She would have been the first lady of the United States if the title had existed at the time.

She was already a widow when she married George Washington. Her first husband was Daniel Parke Custis, who died when Martha was 26. They had four children together, but only two would survive past childhood.

George Washington married Martha on January 6, 1759, and they were together until his death.

Did George Washington have any children?

George Washington did not have any biological children.

His wife, Martha, had two children from a previous marriage, John Parke Custis and Martha "Patsy" Parke Custis. Washington treated them like his own children - even sending letters of advice while John was at college!

Unfortunately, Patsy had a fatal seizure in her teenage years. Only John survived to adulthood. He would have seven children with his wife, Eleanor Calvert.

How did George Washington die?

George Washington died on December 14, 1799. He was 67 years old.

His cause of death was a bacterial throat infection, which worsened quickly. Different doctors treated Washington using techniques like blood-letting. A total of 32 ounces of blood had been extracted from him during this time.

Nothing could be done, and by late afternoon, Washington was dead.

After George Washington's death, his household staff followed his last wishes. His body was kept for three days in a mahogany casket. He was then buried at his home in Mount Vernon.

George Washington's Achievements

Why is George Washington important?

George Washington's story is linked to the birth of America as we know it today. He took part in some of the nation's most significant achievements. His influence on the country can still be seen several hundred years later!

Washington served as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, leading to America's long-awaited independence from Britain.

He would become the first-ever president of the United States, winning all votes in the electoral college.

Finally, Washington would also preside over the U.S. Constitution as it was being written. The Constitution is the foundation of democracy in this country. It lays out the rules on how America should be governed by future leaders.

Food for Thought

It can be challenging to talk about notable figures from the past without discussing their controversial positions or immoral actions. George Washington is no exception.

While his contributions to the founding of the United States will never and should never be forgotten, we also cannot ignore that he was an enslaver. It would be easy to write this off and say that he was "a product of his time," but some people he lived and worked alongside also objected to the practice of slavery.

George Washington described slavery as a "regret" in his life. In his will, he wrote that all enslaved people he owned should be set free upon his death... but that they should continue to serve his wife, Martha Washington, until her death.

So, here are a few questions to prompt discussion and future research:

Why did Washington wait until his death to free the enslaved people of Mount Vernon when he could have done so in life?

Were the Black Americans enslaved by Washington actually freed, as the story goes? Or did they enter new forms of oppression?

How can we reconcile our idea of George Washington, America's first-ever president, with his personal life as an enslaver?

10 Facts about George Washington for Kids

1. George Washington is the only president of the United States who has a state named after him. The state of Washington was granted statehood in 1889, long after his death. Its name was chosen to honor his achievements!

2. When Washington held office, the capital of the United States was temporarily found in New York City, then later Philadelphia.

3. Many counties, streets, towns, bridges, parks, schools, and colleges are named after George Washington. These can be found all over the United States. Keep your eyes peeled for a Washington Street near you!

4. George Washington was a big fan of animals. The names of some of his hunting dogs included Sweet Lips, Venus, Trulove, and Drunkard.

5. Some people think that George Washington's iconic white hair was a wig. It's actually his hair - he just powdered it!

6. Washington's teeth were broken and damaged from cracking walnuts, so he wore dentures. Contrary to popular belief, these were not made out of wood. His dentures were made from gold, ivory, lead, and human teeth pulled from enslaved people.

7. George Washington owned a distillery and made gallons of whiskey every year. He was also involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. Farmers in Pennsylvania stopped paying the tax on whiskey, and Washington sent forces to stop them.

8. The tale of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree is thought to be a myth nowadays. Although it was told in a written biography, there were no eye-witnesses to confirm it. But it's still a fun story!

9. As the president of the United States, George Washington's salary was 2% of the country's total budget.

10. Over his life, George Washington wrote over 18,000 letters. Some estimates go as high as 20,000! This would amount to several letters a day for most of his life.

Looking to enhance your knowledge of the first president of the United States? Learn and share fun facts about George Washington with our George Washington Fast Facts PowerPoint!

A George Washington Video for Kids

Teaching Resources on George Washington

You can find a lot of activities about George Washington (and other presidents) in our Presidents Day resource categories. Our PowerPoints, worksheets, activities, games, and even our classroom decorations are all made by experienced educators. These are separated by grade level to make sure it's easy to find what you need for your class:

Alternatively, we've highlighted a few of our favorites below!

The First American President Story PowerPoint

Featuring 21 slides about George Washington, this PowerPoint tells the fascinating story of George Washington. It covers his early life, his work on the Constitution, and the first-ever election - that he won, of course!

The beautiful illustrations in this First American President Story PowerPoint will catch and keep students' attention. George Washington is a foundational figure in American history, so it's crucial to represent all the facts in an accurate, age-appropriate way.

George Washington Graphic Organizer

Graphic organizers are a valuable classroom resource. They allow kids to easily practice collecting and organizing information from books and online resources.

This George Washington Graphic Organizer is ready to print off and use immediately with your class. Children can fill in factual information about George Washington, including interesting facts, date of birth, place of birth, and more. There are also two drawing activities, making it perfect for younger students.

George Washington Teaching Pack

This George Washington Teaching Pack has everything you need to get started in one convenient click. There's a PowerPoint presentation, a printable fact sheet, two worksheets for children to fill in, a cut-out of President Washington for your walls, and even a pop quiz.

It's ideal for third-grade to fifth-grade students. To find teaching materials on George Washington appropriate for early childhood or lower-elementary students, take a look at our First American President Activity Pack.

Looking for more resources? Join us on social media!

Here at Twinkl, we have resources ranging across the entire curriculum to support your lesson planning needs. If you're not subscribed yet, you can stay in the loop for freebies and giveaways by joining our Facebook Group.

And if you are subscribed, you can connect with other like-minded educators from around the country to share teaching tips and tricks. Click below to get started!

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George Washington for Kids | Facts & Information | Twinkl

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George Washington was the first president of the United States. Learn facts about George Washington for kids here, covering his life, legacy, and controversies!

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Battles of Lexington and Concord Facts for Kids

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Learn Battles of Lexington and Concord facts for kids

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The Battles of Lexington and Concord April 19, 1775, in Massachusetts, marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War

Listen, my children, and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of Paul Revere,
On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;
Hardly a man is now alive
Who remembers that famous day and year
-- Henry Wadsworthy Longellow, "Paul Revere's Ride"

By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;
Here once the embattled farmers stood;
And fired the shot heard round the world.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Concord Hymn"

The Shot Heard Round the World, Here's what happened:

The British discovered, through their informants and spies, that the colonists were buying and stockpiling guns and gunpowder. The British decided that it was time to teach those colonial farmers a lesson. So they set out from Boston to seize all the guns and gunpowder they could find, and maybe catch some of the colonial leaders.

The colonials also had spies. They knew the British planned on seizing their guns. But when would the British make their move? They watched the British army. The colonists had men standing by to ride and give the alarm when the British made their move. One of these men was a silversmith from Boston named Paul Revere. When he saw the British soldiers marching out, Paul Revere and other riders galloped over the countryside, warning colonists that the British were coming.

Lexington: When a group of several hundred British soldiers reached the town of Lexington, they were met by a militia of about 70 colonial men. The British ordered them to drop their weapons. Suddenly a shot rang out. No one knows which side fired this shot. But within minutes, 8 colonial men were dead. Others were wounded. The rest of the colonists scattered into the woods.

Concord: The British troops moved on to Concord. They had heard that the rebels at Concord had canons. This was a concern. Canons were powerful weapons. The British planned to grab everything - guns, gunpowder, canons and cannonballs. They especially wanted the canons. About a hundred British soldiers were sent to Barretts Farm, where they had been told by their spies that they would find a storage of weapons. They had to cross the North Bridge to get there. To their surprise, about 200 Minutemen were guarding the North Bridge. As the British crossed the bridge, a Minuteman fired. The British quickly retreated. They were poorly led. They saw they were outnumbered. Their position on a bridge was difficult to defend. They fled back to Concord, where they joined other British soldiers and marched towards Lexington. By then, the word had reached many farms that the British were attacking. About 4000 Minutemen and colonial militia lined the road from Concord to Lexington. As the British retreated, marching in formation, the colonists shot at the British from their hiding places behind trees. It would have been a slaughter, but many British lives were saved when a second group of British soldiers arrived on the scene. This second group brought canons, which quickly dispersed the colonial forces. Guns were no match for cannonballs. Still, before they fled, the colonists were able to kill about 200 British soldiers.

Rumors and Propaganda: The battles of Lexington and Concord were not a victory for the colonists, but they did act somewhat like an effective piece of propaganda. The word spread rapidly that colonial farmers could fight professional British soldiers and win. After all, the colonial farmers did kill about 200 British soldiers before they fled into the woods and back to their farms, where of course they acted as if they knew nothing about the battle they had just left. Like most rumors, the stories grew and grew until one would think the British hardly put up a fight at all, and the colonial militia was overwhelmingly victorious. These rumors helped a great deal. They gave the colonial people courage.

Patriots and Loyalists: Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the American Revolution, although it was not yet called a war by the people of the time. It was, however, a time of decision. Colonists were forced to choose sides. Those colonists loyal to the British were called Loyalists. Colonists loyal to the colonial rebels were called Patriots. The Loyalists and the Patriots did not get along. They had two very strong and very different opinions about the future of the American colonies. They both thought they were right. Break from Britain?, the Loyalists muttered - that's insane; we need the British to defend us and support us. To not break from Britain?, muttered the Patriots - that's insane; we need our freedom to flourish and we can support ourselves.

Liberty's Kids - The Shot Heard Round the World (video, animated)

Mission 1 - For Crown or Colony - Take a side game
School House Rocks - The Shot Heard Round the World Newspaper Headline (Boston, 1774) Paul Revere, William Dawes, Samuel Prescott Lexington and Concord, Paul Revere,
The Shot Heard Round the World - Games & Interactives
Other Famous Battles of the Revolutionary War for Kids
The American Revolution for Kids

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The American Revolution for Kids - Lexington & Concord, The Shot Heard Round the World - Road to Revolution for Kids

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Listen, my children, and you shall hearOf the midnight ride of Paul Revere,On the eighteenth of April, in Seventy-Five;Hardly a man is now aliveWho remembers that famous day and year -- Henry Wadsworthy Longellow, "Paul Revere's Ride" By the rude bridge that arched the flood,Their flag to April's breeze unfurled;Here once the embattled farmers stood;And fired the shot heard round the world.

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After the Tea Party, Parliament passed four punishing acts in 1774. The first law closed Boston Harbor until the colonists paid for the ruined tea. The second law placed Massachusetts under military rule. The third law protected British officials who were accused of crimes in the colonies. The fourth law said that British soldiers could be housed in colonists' homes. Another law passed in 1774 gave an area of land west of the 13 colonies to Quebec. The colonists called these laws intolerable (unbearable) and coercive (forceful).

The British thought that the strict new laws would bring the colonies under control. Instead, the colonies decided to work together against the British government. They set up the Continental Congress, which issued the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

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The Intolerable Acts (also called the Coercive Acts) were harsh laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774. They were meant to punish the American colonists for the Boston...

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The American Revolution for Kids - Intolerable Acts, First Continental Congress, Boycott, Militia & the Minutemen - Road to Revolution for Kids

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For Kids: When something becomes intolerable that means it is so bad you will no longer put up with it and you will put a stop to it.

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Intolerable Acts Facts for Kids | Historical Background, The Acts, Aftermath

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The Intolerable acts were introduced in the American colonies of the British Empire in response to the Boston Tea Party incident.