Final answer:
General Thomas Gage reacted to the unrest in Massachusetts by requesting more troops and attempting to disarm the rebels and arrest their leaders, which escalated tensions leading to the events at Lexington and Concord. The correct option is D.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to the increased violence and collapsing royal authority in Massachusetts early in 1775, General Thomas Gage requested additional military support. He did not enact martial law, withdraw British troops, or offer concessions to the colonists. Instead, Gage conducted raids to disarm the rebels and attempt to arrest their leaders.
Although Gage was sympathetic to the American cause, he was duty-bound to follow orders from the British Crown, leading him to send troops to seize munitions and leaders of the rebellion. This series of actions ultimately contributed to the outbreak of hostilities at Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, marking the beginning of the American Revolutionary War.