Battles of Lexington and Concord

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first armed conflicts of the American Revolutionary War. They took place on April 19, 1775, in the towns of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. These battles marked the start of open fighting between Great Britain and its American colonies. Before this time, tension had been growing, but war had not yet begun.

At the time, the American colonies were under British rule. British leaders were concerned about colonial resistance. They believed colonists were storing weapons in Concord. Weapons are tools used for fighting, such as guns and ammunition. British General Thomas Gage ordered soldiers to march from Boston to Concord to seize these supplies. The plan was meant to be quiet, but colonial groups learned about it.

Early on April 19, British soldiers reached the town of Lexington. There they met a small group of colonial fighters called militia. A militia is a group of local citizens trained to fight when needed. No one knows who fired the first shot. This moment is often called the shot heard round the world. Several militia members were killed or wounded, and the British soldiers continued toward Concord.

When the British arrived in Concord, they searched for weapons. Some supplies had already been moved away. At the North Bridge, British soldiers met a larger group of colonial militia. This time, the colonists fired first and forced the British to retreat. A retreat means to move back from a fight. This was the first time colonial forces successfully pushed back British soldiers.

As British troops marched back toward Boston, they were attacked along the road by militia from nearby towns. Colonists used the land for cover, hiding behind trees, walls, and buildings. The British soldiers suffered many losses during this retreat. By the end of the day, the British had many more casualties than the colonists. A casualty is a person killed or injured in a battle.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord had lasting effects. News of the fighting spread quickly across the colonies. Colonial leaders began to prepare for a longer conflict. Soon after, a large colonial army gathered near Boston. These events led directly to the start of the American Revolutionary War, which continued for several years and involved many more battles.