The event considered the starting point of the American Revolutionary War is the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775. These skirmishes marked the first military engagements between colonial militia and British troops. The confrontations arose from tensions surrounding British taxation, governance, and the growing desire for colonial independence. The phrase "the shot heard 'round the world" symbolizes the significant impact of these battles, as they ignited the revolutionary spirit among the colonists. This marked the beginning of an extended conflict leading to the establishment of the United States.