Which battle is generally recognized as the first battle of the American Revolutionary War?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord are generally recognized as the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.

They took place in Massachusetts on April 19, 1775. British regulars marched from Boston toward Concord to seize military supplies, while colonial militia mobilized to meet them. Fighting began at Lexington and continued through Concord and along the British retreat.

The opening clash at Lexington was small, but the day rapidly expanded into a larger confrontation. Colonial militia from surrounding communities fired on British troops during their return to Boston, causing significant casualties on both sides.

The battles preceded the Declaration of Independence by more than a year. That distinction matters: the war began in 1775, while the colonies’ formal declaration that they were independent states came in 1776.