Which battles in Massachusetts are generally regarded as the opening clashes of the American Revolutionary War?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord are generally regarded as the opening clashes of the American Revolutionary War.

The fighting began on April 19, 1775, in the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord and along the roads toward Boston. British regulars marched from Boston to seize colonial military supplies, while colonial militia gathered to oppose them. The confrontation at Lexington was followed by fighting at Concord and a long retreat under fire.

The events transformed a political crisis into open armed conflict. News of the battles spread rapidly through the colonies, bringing thousands of militia members toward Boston. The Second Continental Congress later created a Continental Army and appointed George Washington commander in chief.

The battles occurred more than a year before the Declaration of Independence, so they are not the same event as the 1776 declaration. Saratoga became a major American victory in 1777, while Yorktown's British surrender came in 1781. Lexington and Concord mark the beginning of the war itself.