AF101

American Facts 101

History and civics

Glossary term

Lexington and Concord

April 19, 1775 battles that began the Revolutionary War ("shot heard round the world").

Historical context

The Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, were the first major military actions between the British Army and Patriot militias from British America's Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolutionary War. The opposing forces fought day-long running battles in Middlesex County in the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in the towns of Lexington, Concord, Lincoln, Menotomy, and Cambridge.