Sources are where historians get their information about what happened in the past. Like the

clues at a murder scene for a detective, they provide the facts that support historical arguments and conclusions. As a

student writing a paper about some aspect of history, you also will need to go to sources. You cannot just write

something from your own "feelings" or "experience." You must instead use sources

that record and describe past events and people.

http://departments.kings.edu/history/sources.html

“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it.

”

Bloody Butchery by the British Troops Or The Runaway Fight of the Regulars

Being the PARTICULARS of the VICTORIOUS BATTLE fought at and near CONCORD, situated Twenty Miles from Boston, in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, between Two Thousand Regular troops, belonging to His Britannic Majesty, and a few Hundred Provincial Troops, belonging to the Province of Massachusetts-Bay, which lasted from sunrise until sunset, on the 19th of April, 1775, when it was decided greatly in favor of the later....

They pillaged almost every house they passed by, breaking and destroying

doors, windows, glasses, &c., and carrying off clothing and other valuable effects. It appeared to be their design to burn and destroy all before them; and nothing but our vigorous pursuit prevented their infernal purposes from being put in execution.

But the savage barbarity exercised upon the bodies of our own unfortunate

bretheren who fell, is almost incredible. Not content with shooting down the unarmed, aged and infirm, they disregarded the cries of the wounded, killed them without mercy, and mangling their bodies in a most shocking manner."

The following is an excerpt from a paper written on April 21, 1775.

I, Sylvanus Wood, of Woburn, in the county of Middlesex, and commonwealth of Massachusetts, aged seventy-four years, do testify and say that on the morning of the 19th of April, 1775, …

… The British troops approached us rapidly in platoons, with a general officer on horseback at their head. The officer came up … then swung his sword, and said, 'Lay down your arms, you damned rebels, or you are all dead men. Fire!' Some guns were fired by the British at us from the first platoon, but no person was killed or hurt, being probably charged only with powder.

Just at this time, Captain Parker ordered every man to take care of himself. The company immediately dispersed; and while the company was dispersing and leaping over the wall, the second platoon of the British fired and killed some of our men. There was not a gun fired by anv of Captain Parker's company, within my knowledge. I was so situated that I must have known it, had any thing of the kind taken place before a total dispersion of our company. I have been intimately acquainted with the inhabitants of Lexington, and particularly with those of Captain Parker's company, and, with one exception, I have never heard any of them say or pretend that there was any firing at the British from Parker's company, or any individual in it until within a year or two. One member of the company told me, many years since, that, after Parker's company had dispersed, and he was at some distance, he gave them 'the guts of his gun.'"

-Twenty-three-year-old Sylvanus Wood was one of the Lexington militia who answered the call that spring morning. Several years after the event he committed his recollection to paper in an affidavit sworn before a Justice of the Peace which was first published in 1858:

Lesson Summary

History" is a Greek word which means, literally, just "investigation.“

Arnold Toynbee

Do you agree with this statement?

Explain why or why not.

Introduction Samples

• “Based on the evidence the British started the Battle of Lexington. Documents from reliable witnesses and reports of aggressive British behavior prove that the British made the first move.” Sophie F.

• “Over 200 years ago, the Battle of Lexington started the American Revolution. Many people disagreed about who started fired the first shot. Based on the evidence..the colonists fired first, starting the war.” Anna J-H

• “One of the biggest questions in American history, who started the Battle of Lexington? Was it the rebellious colonists, or the organized military, power Britain who fired first? Ben M.

Citing sources

• “As for document # 6, Major Pitcairn, a major for the British, who was second in command….tells about the battle…”

Eve G.

“Patriot general , John Parker claimed the British killed 8…”Sanford B.

Conclusion“…During the Revolutionary War, many people on both sides used propaganda to alter what happened.” Matt H.

Corroborating evidenceComparing information from several sources

• As I studied the evidence, I realized that all of the written ‘documents’ by the colonists made the British troops sound like rogues and acting like barbarians. But as I went through the picture evidence, I realized that the pictures did not show houses being burnt down, people hanged, or the British troops in a non-orderly fashion” Zachary B

Some more thoughts

• Everyone answered the question in the Introduction- EXCELLENT !!

• Be very careful about stating what ‘truth’ is. Remember, as historians you examine the evidence for clues ALWAYS REMEMBERING what you still don’t know.

• Avoid writing in the first person (i.e., In my opinion, I will tell you, I think)

• Reference the authors you are citing in your evidence (e.g. “In a letter by Major Pitcairn..”)

• Cite strongest evidence LAST. Leave the reader with the strongest proof or your argument.

• Take time to proofread your work and make last corrections.

Essay Reflection

What did you do well in the essay?

What would you do differently if you could rewrite your essay?

Explain your answers.