Which 1775 battles marked the first major armed conflict of the American Revolutionary War?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the first major armed conflict of the American Revolutionary War.

Fought on April 19, 1775, in Massachusetts, the battles began when British regulars marched from Boston to seize colonial military supplies at Concord. Colonial militiamen confronted them first at Lexington, where fighting broke out. The British then continued to Concord, but faced stronger resistance there and during their retreat.

The clashes transformed political tension into open warfare. The battles were not a single engagement but a series of skirmishes along the road between Boston, Lexington, and Concord. Colonial forces suffered fewer overall casualties, while the British column returned to Boston under sustained fire.

The events are sometimes remembered through Paul Revere’s ride, although Revere was one of several warning riders and was captured before reaching Concord. The battles led to the Siege of Boston and the creation of the Continental Army.