Ben Franklin's World BFW Revisited: The Road to Concord
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Apr 15, 2025 J.L. Bell, Massachusetts historian and author of The Road to Concord, explores how four stolen brass cannon and the hunt for artillery pushed Massachusetts from protest to armed conflict. Short, vivid tales cover the Powder Raid, militia organization, how the guns were hidden and smuggled, and why British searches led to Lexington and Concord.
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Artillery Hunt Fueled The Road To War
- The hunt for artillery was a major catalyst pushing Massachusetts from political resistance to armed conflict.
- Parliament's Coercive Acts, especially the Massachusetts Government Act, transformed local grievances into province-wide militancy in 1774.
Massachusetts Government Act Radicalized Rural Towns
- The Massachusetts Government Act centralized appointment power and restricted town meetings, eroding local self-government.
- That law converted many previously indifferent rural towns into active opponents by signaling permanent loss of colonial rights.
Powder Raid Sparked Massive Rural Mobilization
- The Powder Raid on September 1, 1774 saw General Gage seize provincial powder and two cannon and store them on Castle Island.
- The next day thousands marched to Cambridge, forced resignations, and proved Gage had no authority outside Boston.
