Patriots' Day

Patriots’ Day is a celebration of the battles of Lexington and Concord, which started the American Revolutionary War during which America fought for its independence from Britain. American colonists had long been unhappy under British rule, but many had remained unconvinced that going to war with Britain was the wisest decision. However, when British soldiers fired on a colonial militia, only to be later defeated by thousands of minute men, many colonists were convinced that they could defeat the powerful empire.

Patriots’ Day is a state holiday in Maine and Massachusetts that is celebrated on the third Friday of April. On this occasion, all state offices and many stores and businesses close. Re-enactments of the battles of Lexington and Concord are held, along with parties, concerts, and sporting events.

The holiday is also celebrated across the country, but the festivities tend to be smaller than in Maine and Massachusetts. Additionally, the date is an official state holiday in only those two states.

Background

Prior to the Revolutionary War, the thirteen colonies that would later make up the early United States of America were under British rule. The colonies quickly grew dissatisfied with British governance. They were angry that Britain were leveling unfair taxes against them and was doing so without granting the colonies representation in Britain’s government. Additionally, the colonies were becoming frustrated with the delays involved in being governed by a country across the ocean.

Many colonists wanted to forge a new country out of the thirteen colonies, giving them the right to govern themselves. Other colonists thought that it was best to remain a part of the powerful British Empire. Britain was aware of the tensions in the colonies and sought to reduce the chance that its territories would be able to successfully orchestrate a rebellion.

On April 18, 1775, a large contingent of British soldiers marched out of Boston to the nearby town of Concord. They planned to seize a large cache of weapons stored in Concord, which the British suspected were being stockpiled for use in a future rebellion. Upon seeing the British soldiers begin to march, several members of the colonial militia rode ahead, warning the other militia members that the British army was coming to seize their weapons.

On April 19, near dawn, roughly seven hundred British troops arrived in Lexington, a town near Concord. They were opposed by seventy-seven armed militia members. The British demanded that the militia members drop their weapons and surrender. At some point, either a militia member or a British soldier fired a weapon. Each side claimed that the other had fired the first shot.

The British responded to the gunshot by firing several volleys into the assembled colonists, killing eight and wounding nine others. The militia members scattered, and the British continued on to Concord. Hundreds of militia members rallied at Concord, where they battled against the British soldiers. The British began to retreat toward Boston as thousands of militia members continued to rally toward Concord, firing on the British troops from behind houses, walls, and trees. The militias drove the British back to the town of Charlestown Neck, where the British Navy was able to reinforce its soldiers.

Overview

Patriots’ Day commemorates the battles of Lexington and Concord when the militias caused more damage to the British than they received. Many colonists took this as a sign that they had a chance of defeating Britain. Prior to these battles, many colonists were opposed to remaining part of the British Empire but doubted that the colonies could fight against the powerful British military.

The colonies united, drafting the Declaration of Independence. They went to war against Great Britain, raising armies and fighting for the right to self-governance. With help from foreign enemies of Britain, the colonists prevailed. The British surrendered in Yorktown, Virginia, in 1783, effectively ending the war. However, some fighting continued through 1783.

Patriots’ Day is celebrated on the third Monday of April. The holiday is most commonly celebrated in Massachusetts and Maine, where it has been legally declared a state holiday. State, county, and municipal offices are closed in observance, and most schools close for the day. Patriots’ Day is not a federal holiday, however, and federal offices may remain open. Many stores close in observance of the holiday.

In Lexington, Concord, and the surrounding areas, many groups hold re-enactments of the battles of Lexington and Concord. During these scenarios, volunteers dress in period uniforms and pretend to act in the battles. These demonstrations serve to both educate and entertain the public and are often watched by large crowds of onlookers. The Boston Marathon is one of the best-known Patriots’ Day celebrations. It is organized every year by the city of Boston and one of the best-attended events in the region.

Though Patriots’ Day is most popular in Massachusetts and Maine, which include the areas where the battles of Lexington and Concord occurred, it is celebrated in numerous other states such as Tennessee and Wisconsin. However, Patriots’ Day is not an official state holiday in these locations. Additionally, Patriots’ Day festivities in these regions tend to be smaller than those located in Maine and Massachusetts.

Bibliography

“Battles of Lexington and Concord,” History, September 3, 2019, www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/battles-of-lexington-and-concord. Accessed November 5, 2019.

“Boston Marathon,” Boston, 2019, www.bostonusa.com/events/special-events/boston-marathon/. Accessed November 5, 2019.

Lee, Joon. “What Is Patriots’ Day? Your Introduction to Boston’s Greatest Holiday,” Bleacher Report, 17 April, 2017, bleacherreport.com/articles/2704041-what-is-patriots-day-your-introduction-to-bostons-greatest-holiday. Accessed November 5, 2019.

“Lexington and Concord,” American Battlefield Trust, 2019, www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/battles/lexington-and-concord. Accessed November 5, 2019.

“Lexington and Concord,” Khan Academy, 2019, www.khanacademy.org/humanities/us-history/road-to-revolution/the-american-revolution/a/lexington-and-concord. Accessed November 5, 2019.

“Patriot’s Day in the United States,” Time and Date, 2019, www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/patriots-day. Accessed November 5, 2019.

Stezano, Martin. “What is Patriots’ Day?” History, September 1, 2018, www.history.com/news/what-is-patriots-day. Accessed November 5, 2019.