On April 19, 1775, British troops marched on the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord on orders to disarm rebellious American colonists and arrest their ringleaders. Little did they know that the ensuing conflicts would ignite the American Revolutionary War. Using an array of primary source documents that includes a contemporary map with military camps and troop movements, Amos Doolittle engravings, and British and American propaganda broadsides, this Jackdaw details the events of the day as well as the causes and immediate aftermath. An illustrated Broadsheet Essay provides essential background to facilitate document analysis and understanding.

Focus Jackdaws are specifically designed to stimulate interest in key historical eras and events and link the past with the present. They are ideal for enhanced classroom discussions, concentrated group study, and individual student research projects. Authentically reproduced documents help students understand the significance of primary source materials while they expand critical thinking and analysis skills.

• Illustrated Broadsheet Essay
• Timeline
• Critical Thinking Questions
• Recommended Reading List

1. Map of Boston, Lexington, and Concord by British mapmaker J. DeCosta, 1775
2. "The Battle of Lexington," an Amos Doolittle engraving, 1775
3. "Engagement at the North Bridge in Concord," an Amos Doolittle engraving, 1775
4. "A Circumstantial Account of an Attack," a British broadside, 1775
5. "A List of the Names of the Provincials Who Were Killed and Wounded," an American broadside, 1775
6. "Bloody Butchery by the British Troops," an American broadside, 1775
7. "The Retreat," a British cartoon, 1775
8. Historic postcards from the battle sites