The battle known as the "shot heard 'round the world" refers to the opening confrontation of the American Revolutionary War, occurring on April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. This phrase encapsulates the significance of the event: it marked the first military engagements between colonial militias and British troops. The skirmish signified a break from British rule and ignited the larger conflict for American independence. The phrase became emblematic of the struggle for freedom and has resonated in historical discourse about the revolution, representing the moment when the colonies took a definitive stand against British oppression.