You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.

Hello, and thanks for joining Revolution 250, where we look at events that took place 250 years ago this week.

This is from the American Revolution podcast, but this is just a short bonus episode to remind you about important anniversaries from the Revolutionary War.

This week, we remember British orders to General Gage that were received on April 14, 1775.

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General Gage had been sent to take command of Massachusetts in the summer of 1774.

The new colonial governor came with orders to enforce the coercive acts on the colony and restore order.

Like most leaders in London, Gage had been critical of his predecessor, as being too weak in compromising,

allowing the locals to challenge authority. That needed to stop. After Gage's arrival,

he closed Boston Harbor, banned town meetings, and replaced elected officials with those that

he appointed. The colonists took up arms and chased Gage

and his army into Boston. Gage's view of the colonists changed very quickly. He realized that this

problem was not a few rabble-rousers who could be arrested. It was the entire colony that was

willing to take up arms and challenge efforts to take away their rights

...