WHY APRIL IS THE MOST AMERICAN MONTH

by Guy Miller, Vice Chair Emeritus, Chennault Aviation and Military Museum

In the annals of history, certain events stand out as pivotal moments that shape the course of nations.  It seems fitting that two of these pivotal events – the beginning of the American revolution and the most telling result of America’s triumph in that war both fell in the same month.

April 19th, 1775 dawned as just another day for most people in the American colonies.  But some men in Massachusetts knew this day would change their lives.  And possibly lead to a better live for all in America someday.

Tensions between the American colonies and the British Crown had been escalating for years.   Grievances over taxation without representation, the presence of British troops in colonial towns and the erosion of civil liberties fueled simmering discontent among the colonists. The stage was set for confrontation and the spark that would ignite the powder keg came in the form of General Thomas Gage’s orders to confiscate colonial arms and ammunition stored in Concord, Massachusetts and to  capture rebel leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock.

On the night of April 18th, 1775, a clandestine operation took place that would initiate the events that changed the course of history.  Paul Revere and William Dawes, members of the Sons of Liberty, embarked on their legendary midnight rides to warn the countryside of the impending British advance. Their cries of “The British are coming!” echoed through the night, alerting the colonial militia and galvanizing them into action.

As dawn broke on April 19th, British troops under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith marched towards Concord with the intent of seizing colonial munitions.  However, the colonial militia, known as Minutemen for their readiness to mobilize at a moment’s notice, stood in their way.  Forewarned by Paul Revere’s midnight ride, these men were ready to defend their rights and resist British oppression.  At Lexington, a small village on the road to Concord, a brief skirmish erupted between the colonial militia and British regulars. The first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired and although the exact details of who fired first remain disputed, it mattered little.  The conflict had begun.

After the clash at Lexington, the British continued their march towards Concord where they encountered staunch resistance from the colonial militia.  At Concord’s North Bridge, a pivotal moment unfolded as the Minutemen confronted British troops in a standoff that would come to symbolize the colonists’ defiance.  In a decisive action, the Minutemen repelled the British forces and forced them to retreat towards Boston.

The Battles of Concord and Lexington were small in scale but their impact reverberated far beyond the fields of battle.  They initiated a rallying cry for colonial unity and inspired patriots throughout the thirteen colonies to take up arms in defense of their liberties.

The period between the Battles of Concord and Lexington and the Declaration of Independence was marked by a series of continuing events that fanned the flames of revolution and forged many citizens’ resolve for independence.  From April 19th, 1775 to July 4th, 1776, the people of the American colonies transitioned from discontented subjects to determined revolutionaries.

The simmering tensions between Britain and its American colonies escalated rapidly.  Throughout the spring and summer of 1775, the conflict spread, with notable engagements such as the Battle of Bunker Hill in June, where colonial forces demonstrated their resilience despite suffering significant casualties. These early battles helped shape public opinion throughout the colonies and fostered a sense of unity and defiance against British rule.

Amidst the intensifying hostilities, the Second Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in May 1775 and assumed the role of de facto governing body for the rebellious colonies.  Efforts to reconcile with Britain and come to a peaceful resolution failed as King George III refused to entertain the colonists’ demands for redress of grievances.

Meanwhile, the Continental Army, under the command of General George Washington, took shape, as colonial militias and foreign volunteers filled the ranks.  Despite facing formidable odds against the better-equipped British forces, Washington’s leadership and the perseverance of his troops demonstrated the resolve and commitment of the American cause.

On June 7th, 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia introduced a resolution in the Continental Congress, declaring “that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States.” This proposal laid the groundwork for a formal declaration of independence.  After many debates among the delegates, on July 2nd, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Lee Resolution, officially severing ties with Great Britain and affirming the independence of the United States of America.  Two days later, on July 4th, the Declaration of Independence was formally approved.

After the war, there were calls for George Washington to claim formal political power.  Seven months after the victory at Yorktown, one of his officers suggested what many thought only reasonable in the context of the 18th century – that America should establish a monarchy and that Washington should become king.  A shocked Washington immediately rejected the offer out of hand as both inappropriate and dishonorable and demanded the topic never be raised again.

The long and arduous struggle for independence ultimately culminated in the birth of a nation founded on the principles of liberty and self-governance.  Not wanting to trade one king for another, the new nation instead established a constitutional republic with a presidency and George Washington was inaugurated as America’s first President on April 30th, 1789.