Revolutionary Viewpoints

April 19,1775 Lexington, Massachusetts

After reading the chapter "Morning" from April Morning by Howard Fast engage your students in this activity.

There were no cameras present to record the encounter between the Militia Men and the British at Lexington Common in 1775. Artists painted or drew pictures based on eyewitness accounts by individuals who were there at the time. Below are six artistic viewpoints. Study and analyze each picture using the What Do You See Guide. What were the artists trying to convey? Click on the thumbnail to view a larger image.

Battle of Lexington Amos Doolittle Sketch (1775) Author's Collection

Battle of Lexington Hammett Billings (1855) Post Card from Author's Collection

First Casualties at Lexington Hulton Deutsch Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Lexington Masc. Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1875 Courtesy of Cornell University Library

Battle of Lexington April 19, 1775Etching by Sidney L. Smith (1830)History of the Battle at Lexington by Elias Phinney, 1825

Fight at Lexington April 19, 1775 Harper's New Monthly Magazine, 1860 Courtesy of Cornell University Library