The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the first major military actions of the American Revolutionary War.
The fighting took place on April 19, 1775, in Massachusetts. British troops marched from Boston toward Concord to seize military supplies believed to be stored by the colonists. Patriot riders and local warning networks helped militia companies assemble before and during the British expedition.
The first clash occurred at Lexington, where British regulars confronted local militia. The action continued at Concord and along the British return route to Boston, with militia from surrounding communities joining the fight. The British column suffered significant casualties before reaching safety.
The encounters transformed political resistance into open warfare and began the Siege of Boston. The phrase “shot heard round the world” is often associated with the opening of the conflict, although the exact identity of the person who fired the first shot remains disputed.