The Battles of Lexington and Concord fought on April 19, 1775, signaled the start of armed conflict in the American Revolution.

British forces sought to capture colonial military supplies and detain revolutionary leaders, but local militias were ready to fight back. The clashes that erupted at Lexington, where the famous "shot heard round the world" was fired, and at Concord, where colonists successfully repelled British troops, signified a shift from political opposition to armed conflict. This crucial moment united the colonies and solidified their resolve for independence, sparking the Revolutionary War.