Which two 1775 battles are conventionally regarded as the opening clashes of the American Revolutionary War?

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

The fighting occurred on April 19, 1775, in Massachusetts. British troops marched from Boston toward Concord to seize military supplies, while colonial riders and other messengers warned local communities. Armed colonists confronted the British at Lexington, and fighting continued as the British withdrew from Concord toward Boston.

The exact identity of the first person to fire at Lexington remains disputed, which is why the event is often described as the opening clash rather than assigned to a single shooter. The British retreat caused significant casualties and demonstrated that colonial resistance had become an armed conflict.

The battles began the war in a military sense, but tensions had developed for years through protests, boycotts, and political disputes. The Second Continental Congress later created the Continental Army and appointed George Washington commander in chief.