What happened
British troops marched from Boston to seize military stores and arrest rebel leaders, but were met by colonial militia at Lexington and then attacked repeatedly on the return from Concord. The clashes produced the first sustained armed confrontation of the conflict.
Why it matters
This is the clearest opening event of the war itself. It transformed political dispute and imperial crisis into open military conflict.
Notes
Use this as the starting military anchor for the American War of Independence timeline.