Final answer:
On April 19, 1775, British and American forces clashed at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, igniting the Revolutionary War and leading to the creation of the Continental Army led by George Washington.
Step-by-step explanation:
The British soldiers and American colonists first clashed on April 19, 1775, marking the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. This confrontation occurred at Lexington and Concord, two towns in Massachusetts. British troops, en route to confiscate weapons and arrest rebel leaders, encountered local militia in Lexington, leading to the first shots being fired. The British then pressed on to Concord, where they found a larger assembly of American forces at the North Bridge. After an initial firefight, known as the 'shot heard around the world,' the British were forced to retreat back to Boston, with colonial militias harassing them along the way. The events at Lexington and Concord galvanized the American resolve for independence, leading to the establishment of the Continental Army under George Washington's leadership and the eventual drafting of the Declaration of Independence.