Which April 1775 battles marked the opening major clashes of the American Revolutionary War?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord marked the opening major clashes of the American Revolutionary War in April 1775.

British troops marched from Boston toward Concord to seize colonial military supplies. Colonial riders, including Paul Revere, warned surrounding communities, allowing local militia to assemble. At Lexington Green, British regulars and Massachusetts militia exchanged fire; the exact identity of the first shooter remains disputed.

The British continued to Concord, where militia confronted them at the North Bridge. During the retreat to Boston, colonial forces repeatedly attacked from behind walls, trees, and other cover. The fighting transformed political resistance into an armed conflict.

The battles did not immediately create American independence. The Second Continental Congress later created the Continental Army, and the war continued until the 1783 Treaty of Paris. Bunker Hill, fought two months later, was a much larger battle but was not the opening clash.