Which April 1775 clashes began the armed conflict of the American Revolution commemorated by America250?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord began the armed conflict of the American Revolution commemorated by America250.

The fighting took place on April 19, 1775, in the Province of Massachusetts Bay. British troops marched from Boston toward Concord to seize military supplies, while colonial militia mobilized to meet them. The first clash occurred at Lexington, followed by fighting at Concord and along the British retreat.

The battles did not instantly create an independent United States. At that point, many colonists still described themselves as defending traditional rights within the British Empire. The conflict nevertheless transformed the political crisis into open warfare and led to the Siege of Boston.

The engagements are often remembered through the phrase “the shot heard round the world,” though the exact first shot remains uncertain. They preceded the Declaration of Independence by more than a year and began the Revolutionary War's military phase.