What If Paul Revere Had Been Arrested? 
This high-school–level activity challenges students to rethink the opening of the American Revolution by altering a single pivotal moment: Paul Revere’s arrest before reaching Lexington. Students begin by examining the real events of April 18–19, 1775, identifying how communication, leadership decisions, and militia mobilization set the stage for the first shots of the war. Then they break the historical timeline and build a grounded, evidence-based alternate scenario to predict how this disruption would affect the Patriot cause. With a strong emphasis on cause-and-effect reasoning and analytical writing, this activity gives students a deeper look at how fragile turning points can reshape history.
 
Grade Level: 9–12
Duration: 1–2 class periods (50–55 minutes each)
DOK 2-3
 
What’s Included:
History Cat article: “Battle of Lexington” for classroom distribution.
Printable worksheets: Includes sequence-of-events analysis, cause-and-effect breakdowns, alternate-history modeling, and structured argument prompts.
Answer keys: Provided for all worksheets and activities to streamline grading.
Teacher’s guide: Step-by-step instructions with tips for facilitating discussion and supporting evidence-based predictions.
 
Skills Developed:
Cause-and-effect reasoning using historical events
Evidence-based argumentation and prediction
Analytical interpretation of primary and secondary sources
 
Perfect For:
High school U.S. History teachers who want students to think deeply about turning points, evaluate historical consequences, and practice structured analytical writing. Ideal for units on the American Revolution, communication networks, or the study of how small events can shift major outcomes.