What event occurred on April 18, 1775, that marked the beginning of hostilities between British troops and colonists?

The Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 18, 1775, is significant as it marked the official start of armed conflict between the British troops and American colonists. This confrontation resulted from tensions over British attempts to assert greater control over the colonies and enforce restrictive measures such as the Intolerable Acts.

On that day, British troops set out to confiscate colonial military supplies stored in Concord, Massachusetts. However, local militia members received word of the British advance and assembled to defend their rights and liberties. The encounters in Lexington and then Concord culminated in a clash where shots were fired, famously described as "the shot heard 'round the world."

This event galvanized colonial resistance against British rule and was pivotal in mobilizing support for the Continental Congress and the subsequent fight for independence. It marks the transition from political protest to military confrontation, laying the groundwork for the Revolutionary War.

In contrast, the First Continental Congress took place in 1774, and while it was a critical step in colonial unity and response to British policies, it did not involve direct military engagement. The Boston Tea Party, occurring in 1773, was a protest against taxation without representation but not a military conflict. The signing of the Declaration of Independence took place