Final answer:
Concord was a natural target for the British troops because it was where the colonists stored weapons and ammunition. General Gage had orders to disarm the rebels, and despite efforts at secrecy, Paul Revere and William Dawes had alerted the militia of their approach. Option a is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Concord, Massachusetts, was a natural target for the British troops during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. The British soldiers aimed to take control of Concord because it was where the colonists stored weapons and ammunition, a key resource for potential rebellion. General Gage, the British military commander in Massachusetts, had received orders to disarm the rebels and arrest their leaders, thus targeting Concord as the depot where the militia had stockpiled critical supplies.
In preparation for the conflict, the militia had distributed munitions across various locations, with Concord being significant. The British troops' movement began under the veil of darkness for surprise, but their efforts were undermined by the early warnings provided to the militias by riders like Paul Revere and William Dawes.
These riders were spreading the word about the British advancement towards Lexington and Concord, ensuring the local militias were prepared for their arrival. This strategic contest culminated on April 19, 1775, with skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, starting with what Ralph Waldo Emerson later called the "shot heard round the world" in his "Concord Hymn".
The correct option in the final answer is: a. that is where the colonists stored weapons and ammunition.