Summary
Paul Revere and William Dawes race through the Massachusetts countryside to warn colonists that British troops are marching toward Lexington and Concord. James tags along and discovers that a single night of brave, coordinated action can change the course of history — and that Revere was only one of several riders.
Viewer safety
Nighttime chase sequences; mild tension but no graphic content.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Paul Revere's famous ride was actually a coordinated network of riders warning towns across Massachusetts — but Revere became the symbol of that night.
- Why was it important to warn the colonists that British troops were coming? What would have happened if no one had ridden out?
- History remembers Paul Revere as the hero of that night, but William Dawes and Samuel Prescott also rode. Why do you think one person's name stuck while the others were mostly forgotten?
- James could have stayed safely at the print shop instead of riding out. What made him choose to go?
- How does a single brave action by one person ripple out to affect many others?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: Minutemen, Redcoats, alarm, spy network, Patriot.
Try it: On a simple map of Massachusetts, trace the route of the midnight ride from Boston toward Lexington and Concord. Mark where the British troops were headed, and where the warning riders split up. Write one sentence explaining why speed mattered so much that night.