Final answer:
The Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775 marked the start of armed conflict in the American Revolution. British attempts to confiscate colonial arms sparked the confrontation, leading to the formation of the Continental Army and eventually to the Declaration of Independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
The First Armed Conflict of the American Revolution
The first armed conflict of the American Revolution, known as the Battles of Lexington and Concord, occurred on April 19, 1775. This conflict was the culmination of mounting tensions between Great Britain and the colonies due to British policies perceived as oppressive by the colonists. Tensions escalated following the destruction of tea during the Boston Tea Party in December 1773 and the subsequent punitive measures taken by the British, which included sending troops to Boston and closing Boston Harbor.
The immediate catalyst for the armed conflict was a British military expedition to confiscate colonial weapons and munitions. Early on the morning of April 19, British troops marched towards Concord with the goal of seizing a weapons depot. They were met with resistance in Lexington by colonial militias, including the renowned Minutemen, who, warned by Paul Revere and William Dawes, gathered in anticipation of the British advance. Despite intending only to protest, the situation deteriorated when Marine Lieutenant Jesse Adair decided to confront the militia directly, leading to the first exchange of gunfire.
The "shot heard 'round the world", as Ralph Waldo Emerson later called it, marked the start of the Revolutionary War. This clash led the colonies to form the Continental Army, appointing George Washington as its commander. The Continental Congress met, grievances against British rule were documented, and, in July 1776, the Declaration of Independence, authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted, marking the official break from British rule and the birth of a new nation fighting for its independence.