The Battle of Lexington and Concord marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. The conflict began when British troops attempted to seize colonial weapons in Concord, leading to armed confrontations with American militia forces.

The Battle of Lexington and Concord marked the explosive start of the American Revolutionary War on April 19, 1775. This historic confrontation between British troops and American colonial militia transformed simmering tensions into open warfare and set the stage for America's fight for independence.

What began as a British mission to seize colonial weapons in Concord quickly escalated into a series of intense skirmishes. The famous "shot heard round the world" was fired on Lexington Green, though historians still debate which side fired first. This pivotal moment ignited a conflict that would ultimately lead to the birth of a new nation and forever change the course of world history.

The Battle of Lexington and Concord took place on April 19, 1775, during a period of escalating tensions between British authorities and American colonists. This pivotal confrontation occurred in Massachusetts Bay Colony, starting in the early morning hours and continuing throughout the day.

Colonial America experienced significant political unrest in 1774-1775 due to British Parliament's implementation of the Coercive Acts. Key events shaped the pre-battle environment:

• The Boston Tea Party prompted British authorities to close Boston Harbor
• Massachusetts' colonial government dissolved under British control
• The First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia in September 1774
• Colonial militias stockpiled weapons ammunition across Massachusetts
• Local committees of correspondence coordinated resistance activities

Political Development	Date	Impact
Coercive Acts Enacted	March-June 1774	Restricted colonial self-governance
First Continental Congress	Sept 5-Oct 26, 1774	United colonial opposition
Suffolk Resolves	September 9, 1774	Rejected British authority

• 4,000 British regular troops stationed in Boston
• Naval vessels patrolled Boston Harbor
• Military checkpoints controlled movement in out of the city
• British soldiers conducted regular patrols countryside
• Fortifications established on Boston Neck

British Military Assets	Number
Infantry Regiments	11
Artillery Companies	2
Royal Navy Ships	7
Total Troops in Boston	4,000

On April 18, 1775, tensions in Boston reached a critical point as British forces prepared for a secret mission to seize colonial weapons and arrest revolutionary leaders in Concord.

Paul Revere's midnight ride alerted colonial militia about British troop movements on April 18, 1775. He departed Boston at 10 PM after receiving signals from the Old North Church's steeple: "two lanterns if by sea, one if by land." Revere rode through Medford Charlestown Lexington alerting colonial leaders including John Hancock Samuel Adams. Two additional riders, William Dawes Israel Bisell, took alternate routes to spread the warning, creating a network that mobilized approximately 40 colonial militias.

• Elite grenadier companies carrying heavy combat equipment
• Light infantry units moving ahead as scouts
• Marine units providing rear security
• Supply wagons transporting ammunition provisions

British Force Composition	Number of Troops
Light Infantry Companies	350
Grenadier Companies	320
Marines	30
Total Forces	700

The first military engagement of the American Revolution occurred at Lexington Green on April 19, 1775, at approximately 5:00 AM. British forces under Major John Pitcairn encountered 77 armed minutemen led by Captain John Parker on the town common.

Major Pitcairn ordered the colonial militia to disperse, shouting "Lay down your arms, you damned rebels!" Captain Parker instructed his men to disperse while maintaining possession of their weapons. A shot rang out from an unknown source, followed by an exchange of gunfire between British troops and colonial militia. British soldiers fired two volleys into the colonial ranks, breaking formation to shoot without orders.

The brief skirmish at Lexington Green resulted in:

Casualties	Colonial Militia	British Forces
Killed	8	0
Wounded	10	1

Notable colonial casualties included:

• Jonathan Harrington Jr., who died on his doorstep in view of his wife
• Jonas Parker, Captain Parker's cousin, bayoneted after being wounded
• Samuel Hadley and John Brown, shot while attempting to leave the common
• Asahel Porter, killed while surrendering to British forces

British Lieutenant Edward Hull suffered a minor wound to his arm during the encounter. The remaining British forces regrouped and continued their march toward Concord, leaving the defeated militia behind at Lexington Green.

The confrontation at Concord's North Bridge marked a pivotal moment in the Battle of Lexington and Concord. British forces encountered intense resistance from colonial militia at the wooden bridge spanning the Concord River.

Colonial militia forces, numbering 400 men, positioned themselves on the high ground overlooking North Bridge at 9:30 AM on April 19, 1775. Under the command of Colonel James Barrett, these forces included minutemen from Concord, Acton, Lincoln, Bedford, Westford. Major John Buttrick led the advance toward the bridge where 90-95 British troops stood guard. The colonial forces successfully pushed across the bridge after an exchange of fire that left 2 British soldiers dead and 4 British officers wounded.

Colonial Forces at North Bridge	Number
Total Militia Present	400
British Guards at Bridge	95
British Casualties	6

The British retreat from Concord began at noon, facing continuous attacks from an expanding colonial force that grew to 2,000 militia. Colonial fighters utilized guerrilla tactics, firing from behind trees, walls, buildings along the route back to Boston. The British sustained 73 dead, 174 wounded, 26 missing during their 20-mile retreat. Lieutenant Colonel Francis Smith requested reinforcements, prompting Brigadier General Hugh Percy to arrive with 1,000 troops at 2:30 PM in Lexington. The entire British force reached the safety of Charlestown Peninsula at 7:00 PM.

British Retreat Statistics	Number
Colonial Militia Force	2,000
British Dead	73
British Wounded	174
British Missing	26
Retreat Distance (miles)	20

The Battle of Lexington and Concord transformed colonial resistance into armed revolution, marking a decisive turning point in American history. The conflict's immediate effects reshaped colonial politics, military organization, and public sentiment toward British rule.

The battles ignited a chain of military responses across the colonies. Within 24 hours of the conflict, 15,000 militia members from Massachusetts surrounded Boston, establishing a siege of British forces. The Second Continental Congress convened on May 10, 1775, creating the Continental Army on June 14, 1775, with George Washington appointed as Commander-in-Chief. British military casualties totaled 273, while colonial forces suffered 93 casualties, demonstrating the colonies' capacity for organized resistance.

Military Response Statistics	Numbers
Colonial militia mobilized	15,000
British casualties	273
Colonial casualties	93
Days until Continental Congress met	21

The battles catalyzed colonial unity through shared resistance. News of the conflict spread rapidly through colonial communication networks, prompting military preparations in all 13 colonies. The provincial assemblies established committees of correspondence, coordinating military responses across colonial borders. Support for independence grew from 15% of the colonial population before the battle to 43% by July 1775. Five colonies formed provisional governments within three months of the conflict, rejecting British authority in favor of local control.

Colonial Unity Indicators	Pre-Battle	Post-Battle
Independence support	15%	43%
Active militias	8 colonies	13 colonies
Provisional governments	0	5

• The Battle of Lexington and Concord occurred on April 19, 1775, marking the official start of the American Revolutionary War
• Paul Revere's famous midnight ride on April 18 alerted colonial militia about British troop movements, helping mobilize approximately 40 colonial militias
• The first shots were fired at Lexington Green around 5:00 AM, resulting in 8 colonial deaths and 10 wounded, while only one British soldier was injured
• At Concord's North Bridge, 400 colonial militia successfully pushed back British forces, marking a turning point in the battle
• The British retreat to Boston faced continuous attacks from 2,000 colonial militia, resulting in 273 British casualties compared to 93 colonial casualties
• Within 24 hours of the battle, 15,000 militia members surrounded Boston, leading to increased colonial unity and support for independence rising from 15% to 43%

The Battle of Lexington and Concord stands as a defining moment that sparked the American Revolution on April 19 1775. What began as a British mission to seize colonial weapons transformed into the first armed conflict between American colonists and British forces.

The battle's aftermath united the colonies in unprecedented ways leading to the formation of the Continental Army and setting the stage for America's bid for independence. The colonial militia's successful resistance against British forces demonstrated that the American pursuit of liberty was not just an ideal but a cause worth fighting for.

This pivotal conflict didn't just change American history—it reshaped the world's political landscape and proved that determined citizens could stand up to the world's mightiest empire.