The Legend of Paul Revere
In The Legend of Paul Revere, historian Lucy Worsley investigates the story of Paul Revere and his actions in the first battle of the War of Independence in 1775. According to the poem “Paul Revere's Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Revere was a lone rider who warned soldiers in Concord that the British were on the march. In Revere's own account, he was arrested by the British, and never made it to Concord. This video is excerpted from BBC's American History's Biggest Fibs with Lucy Worsley, in which Worsley reveals the myths and manipulations behind American history.
Lesson Express
Q: Why were British troops told to seize and destroy weapons in Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts?
A: The British troops were ordered to seize and destroy weapons in Lexington and Concord because the American colonists were preparing for potential conflict with Britain.
Q: What was the significance of the lanterns during this time?
A: The lanterns were used in Paul Revere’s signal system to warn the colonists about the movement of British troops. One lantern meant the British were coming by land, and two lanterns meant they were coming by sea. This allowed the colonists to prepare for the British advance and organize their resistance.
Q: Why did Longfellow’s poem reserve a place in history for Paul Revere?
A: Longfellow's poem, "Paul Revere's Ride," helped make Paul Revere famous and turned his midnight ride into a symbol of American courage and resistance. While the poem took some creative liberties, it spread the story of Revere and inspired generations with the idea of a hero who acted bravely for his country.