Following the Road to Independence—One Day at a Time

This spring marks the start of something extraordinary—not just in 1775 but in 2025.

As we approach the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, the Princeton Battlefield Society is launching a new blog series:
“250 Years Ago Today: The Road to Revolution.”

Each post will spotlight the dramatic, unfolding events of April 1775 and beyond as colonists across the thirteen colonies took their first bold steps toward independence.

April 1775: A Nation Awakens

The opening days of the Revolution weren’t defined by one moment but by many. Here’s what was happening exactly 250 years ago this month:

• 4/18/1775 – Paul Revere and William Dawes leave Boston to warn Patriot leaders that British troops are marching on Lexington to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock and on to Concord to seize arms the Americans have stored there.

• 4/19/1775 – The American Revolution begins in Lexington, MA, when the British fire on American Minutemen confronting them on Lexington Green. Later that day, a second battle occurs on the Old North Bridge in Concord, MA, beginning a bloody retreat and defeat for the British.

• 4/20/1775– Massachusetts and New England militia flock to Cambridge, MA in response to the Battles of Lexington and Concord and begin hemming in the British in Boston.

• 4/21/1775– New Hampshire troops march to reinforce the Americans as post riders speed south to carry the news of the battles.

• 4/22/1775– British General Thomas Gage writes from Boston to the Crown government about the defeats, while in Virginia, Royal Gov. Lord Dunmore threatens to free slaves if Virginians rebel.

• 4/23/1775– The Massachusetts Provincial Congress takes control of the colony’s government outside of Boston and appeals to her sister colonies for reinforcements. Post riders reach New York with news of Lexington and Concord.

• 4/24/1775– John Hancock and Sam Adams reach Worcester MA en route to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Virginia Patriots complain Lord Dunmore has stolen their gunpowder.

• 4/25/1775– Rhode Island votes to send troops to Massachusetts. Post riders now reach Philadelphia with news of the battles. In Baltimore, patriots seize arms and powder from the colony’s arsenal.

• 4/26/1775– Connecticut votes to send troops to Massachusetts.

• 4/27/1775– Virginia Patriots grow more incensed at Lord Dunmore and the theft of the gunpowder.

• 4/28/1775– News of the battles reaches Williamsburg, VA

• 4/29/1775– Connecticut Captain Benedict Arnold arrives at Cambridge MA with his company of soldiers.

• 4/30/1775 – Arnold pitches the Massachusetts Committee of Safety on a mission to capture Fort Ticonderoga at the foot of Lake Champlain and all of its supplies.

Each of these moments reflects a movement that could no longer be ignored: a population rising, colony by colony, to stand against British control and assert a new future.

Why It Matters Today

At Princeton Battlefield Society, our mission is not only to preserve the battlefield—but to keep alive the stories of the men and women who shaped American history.

By revisiting these early days of resistance, we’re reminded that the Revolution wasn’t born in one battle. It was built by acts of courage, communication, and collaboration—from local militias to post riders, town meetings to bold proposals like Arnold’s.

As we move toward January 2027 and the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Princeton, we’ll continue this journey through history—week by week—offering insights, quotes, and reflections that connect the past to the present.

Follow Along

Each week, we’ll share highlights of what happened 250 years ago—tracking the march to independence and the founding of a new nation. You’ll meet the people, places, and events that made revolution inevitable—and made liberty possible.

📚 Miss a week? Visit our archive to catch up anytime.

Be Part of the Story

History isn’t just about remembering—it’s about continuing the work.
As we honor the heroes of 1775, we invite you to walk with us, learn with us, and preserve the legacy they began.

Because 250 years ago, the Revolution began.
And this year, we tell their story.