Patriots' Day is a civic holiday commemorating the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War. It is based on the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775. These events marked the initial outbreak of armed conflict between the Kingdom of Great Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America, signaling the start of the war for independence.
The historical basis for the holiday begins with the midnight rides of Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott, who alerted colonial minutemen that British troops were marching from Boston to seize military supplies stored in Concord. The first confrontation occurred at dawn on Lexington Green, where a brief skirmish resulted in colonial casualties. The British forces then advanced to Concord, where they were met with organized and increasing resistance. At the North Bridge in Concord, colonial militia successfully engaged and repelled three companies of British regulars, forcing them to retreat. The British withdrawal to Boston was a grueling affair, as they were continually ambushed by thousands of colonial militiamen along the route.
The commemoration of these events celebrates the courage and resolve of the early colonial patriots who were willing to bear arms against professional soldiers to defend their rights. The holiday is officially observed on the third Monday in April in Massachusetts and Maine, and as a public school holiday in Wisconsin. It is marked by historical reenactments of the battles, most notably in Lexington and Concord. The Boston Marathon, one of the world's most famous long-distance running events, has been traditionally held on this day, connecting the historical endurance of the minutemen with a modern test of stamina.
