The first major military engagement of the American Revolutionary War was the Battle of Lexington and Concord, which occurred on April 19, 1775. This confrontation marked the start of open armed conflict between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain. Initiated by British attempts to confiscate colonial arms and arrest revolutionary leaders, the battles resulted in colonial militia forces confronting British troops. The phrase "the shot heard 'round the world" is often used to describe the significance of these battles, as they symbolized the beginning of the fight for American independence.