What were the british doing when they were first attacked by colonist in lexington and concord

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the firstmilitary engagements of the American Revolutionary War. The battles were fought on April 19, 1775 in Middlesex County, Province of Massachusetts Bay, within the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy (present-day Arlington), and Cambridge.

Because broadest terms allows the law flexibility depending on changing society and circumstances.