The Battles of Lexington and Concord kicked off the beginning of the American Revolution on April 19, 1775.
The British Army set out from Boston towards Lexington intent on capturing rebel leaders - Samuel Adams and John Hancock - who were stirring up trouble and to destroy the weapons and ammunition that the colonists had stored in Concord, nearby. However, Paul Revere was able to warn Adams and Hancock so they avoided capture and were able to hide most of the weapons.
The Battle of Lexington was actually a very small fight. It is important because it was the First Battle of the Revolution. The very large British army arrived in Lexington to find only 80 American militia. When the two groups met, there was a bit of confusion and then, suddenly, a gun shot went off and the British attacked! A few colonists were killed and the rest of them fled. This is often called “the shot heard around the world” and signaled the official beginning of the American Revolution.
The British left Lexington and moved on towards Concord, looking for the weapons the colonists were supposedly storing. The colonists waited just on the edge of town, growing their army while watching the British advance. Soon, the colonists entered the town of Concord, attacking and defeating the British.
The Battle of Concord was important because it made the British realize that the colonists were serious about fighting for their independence and that they had the support of a growing army to do so.
Now, let's take a minute and watch this video for a summary of the Battles Lexington and Concord.