Was the "shot that was heard around the world" prior to world war 1 or 2?

Desslok

Diamond Member
Jun 14, 2001
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EDIT:My bad. The shot heard round the world is taling about the American Revolution.

Fighting in the American Revolution began with the famous
"Shot heard 'round the world" at Lexington, Massachusetts,
on April 19th, 1775.
 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
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The shot heard round the world was fired at Lexington Common in Lexington, as a few dozen or so militia confronted an overwhelming number British regulars, several hundred strong, who were dispatched by General Gage to destroy a weapons depot containing weapons and powder in Concord. Yes, the Revolutionary War started over gun control and confiscation.

As the British came upon Lexington, they were confronted by the militia, lead by Captain John Parker. British Major John Pitcairn ordered his regulars to halt, then demanded the militia men to "Disperse, ye rebels, disperse!" (according to Pitcairn's recollection of the events). Their response was to shoot at him. :D

Although there is really no documentation of which side or which musket the shot actually came from, one might reasonably surmise that the well-trained British regulars would have exercised restraint when ordered to stand down by Major Pitcairn. While the overwhelmingly outnumbered, untrained, and highly anxious militia were the more likely to let off with a shot, if not out of sheer fright.
 

Gaard

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Feb 17, 2002
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Originally posted by: tcsenter
The shot heard round the world was fired at Lexington Common in Lexington, as a few dozen or so militia confronted an overwhelming number British regulars, several hundred strong, who were dispatched by General Gage to destroy a weapons depot containing weapons and powder in Concord. Yes, the Revolutionary War started over gun control and confiscation.

As the British came upon Lexington, they were confronted by the militia, lead by Captain John Parker. British Major John Pitcairn ordered his regulars to halt, then demanded the militia men to "Disperse, ye rebels, disperse!" (according to Pitcairn's recollection of the events). Their response was to shoot at him. :D

Although there is really no documentation of which side or which musket the shot actually came from, one might reasonably surmise that the well-trained British regulars would have exercised restraint when ordered to stand down by Major Pitcairn. While the overwhelmingly outnumbered, untrained, and highly anxious militia were the more likely to let off with a shot, if not out of sheer fright.

So who won the battle?

<----slept during History class.

 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
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So who won the battle?
Not the militia. Several dead and several wounded, not a single injury reported on the British side, IIRC.
--slept during History class.
Yeah, me too. :D

Most of what I learned about history came from my own personal interest and reading on my own time. I never could be motivated to learn when someone else was dictating to me what I was going to learn and when I had to learn it.
 

KenGr

Senior member
Aug 22, 2002
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Actually both the American Revolution and the assasination of ArchDuke Ferdinand starting World War I are referred to as the Shot Heard Round the World. It probably depends on where you are.

 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
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Actually both the American Revolution and the assasination of ArchDuke Ferdinand starting World War I are referred to as the Shot Heard Round the World. It probably depends on where you are.
Well writers were using that phrase in reference to the start of the American Revolution long before the assassination of Ferdi.