Lexington and Concord name the first major battles of the American Revolutionary War.
The fighting occurred on April 19, 1775, in Massachusetts. British troops marched from Boston toward Concord to seize military supplies, but Patriot riders and local militia had been alerted to the expedition.
The first clash took place at Lexington Green, where British regulars encountered local militiamen. Later, at Concord's Old North Bridge, colonial forces engaged British troops and helped force their withdrawal toward Boston.
The battles began the armed conflict that followed years of political tension. The phrase “shot heard round the world” is associated with the opening exchange, although historians have not established who fired first. The day also began the Siege of Boston.