Assessment Quiz

The Battle of Lexington Green

Lexington, MA

Grades 6-8

Name: Date: Period:

The Battle of Lexington Green

Answer all questions based on our study of Lexington in the American Revolution. For short answer questions, use specific evidence from sources we studied.

1. Why were British troops marching through Lexington on April 19, 1775?
ATo arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock and seize colonial military supplies in ConcordBTo establish a permanent garrison in LexingtonCTo respond to an attack by colonial militiaDTo deliver a message from King George III
2. What makes the colonial depositions about Lexington valuable but also potentially problematic as historical sources?
AThey were collected quickly from eyewitnesses, but for the political purpose of blaming the BritishBThey were written years later from memoryCThey were all written by the same personDThey agree completely on every detail
3. Prince Estabrook, an enslaved man, was among the Lexington militiamen and was wounded in the battle.
True False
4. Explain why historians still debate who fired the first shot at Lexington, even though we have multiple eyewitness accounts. Use evidence from at least one source.
Answer:
5. How does Lieutenant Barker's private diary differ from the official British military reports as a historical source? Why does this difference matter?
Answer:
6. Captain John Parker's famous order — "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here" — is:
ARecorded only in later accounts and may not be his exact wordsBDocumented in multiple contemporaneous sourcesCRecorded in his own diaryDFound in the British military reports
7. Identify one group of people whose perspectives are largely missing from the primary sources about the Battle of Lexington. Why might their perspective add to our understanding?
Answer:

The Battle of Lexington Green

The Shot Heard Round the World: Lexington and the Start of Revolution — Lexington, MA

1.Why were British troops marching through Lexington on April 19, 1775?
Answer:A
The British expedition had two objectives: arresting patriot leaders Adams and Hancock (who had been warned and escaped) and seizing colonial military supplies stored in Concord.
2.What makes the colonial depositions about Lexington valuable but also potentially problematic as historical sources?
Answer:A
The depositions were sworn eyewitness statements collected within days — making them timely and detailed — but they were gathered by the Provincial Congress specifically to establish the British as aggressors, which means students must consider how that political context shaped the accounts.
3.Prince Estabrook, an enslaved man, was among the Lexington militiamen and was wounded in the battle.
Answer:True
Prince Estabrook was enslaved by Benjamin Estabrook of Lexington. He was one of the militiamen on the Green and was wounded, making him one of the first casualties of the American Revolution. His presence challenges simplified narratives about who fought for liberty.
4.Explain why historians still debate who fired the first shot at Lexington, even though we have multiple eyewitness accounts. Use evidence from at least one source.
Answer:[Accept answers that demonstrate understanding of source contradiction and the limits of eyewitness testimony]
Strong answers will note that British and colonial accounts contradict each other, that even accounts from the same side differ on details, and that the chaos of the moment made accurate observation difficult. The political context of source creation also matters.
5.How does Lieutenant Barker's private diary differ from the official British military reports as a historical source? Why does this difference matter?
Answer:[Accept answers that distinguish private vs. public sources and explain implications for reliability]
Strong answers will note that Barker's diary was private and includes criticisms of British command that would never appear in official reports, making it potentially more candid. Students should recognize that the intended audience of a source affects its content.
6.Captain John Parker's famous order — "Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war, let it begin here" — is:
Answer:A
Parker's famous words were first recorded decades after the battle. While they may capture his intent, historians note that exact quotations from chaotic moments should be treated with caution, especially when recorded long after the fact.
7.Identify one group of people whose perspectives are largely missing from the primary sources about the Battle of Lexington. Why might their perspective add to our understanding?
Answer:[Accept answers identifying women, enslaved people, children, Loyalists, or common British soldiers]
Multiple groups are underrepresented: women who watched from nearby, enslaved people beyond Estabrook, children, Loyalist townspeople, and rank-and-file British soldiers. Each would offer different insights into how the events were experienced and understood.