Thousands of Americans gathered in the pre-dawn hours in Lexington, Massachusetts, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the historic clashes that launched the American Revolutionary War and ultimately led to the founding of the United States.
Historic Commemoration Amid Political and Cultural Debate
The anniversary comes as a national debate unfolds over how to mark the Revolution’s legacy—whether through a year-long patriotic celebration, as advocated by President Donald Trump, or a more nuanced approach that acknowledges the role of women, enslaved people, and Native Americans during the Revolution.
The original confrontation occurred on April 19, 1775, when hundreds of British troops marched from Boston and faced colonial militia in Lexington. Although the identity of the first shooter remains unknown, the skirmish escalated westward toward Concord, leaving around 250 British soldiers and 95 colonists dead or wounded.
Revolution’s Meaning Evolving Over Time
Historians note that the Revolution initially sought reform, not independence.
According to Woody Holton, a professor of early American history at the University of South Carolina, most rebels did not originally seek separation from Britain but instead wanted improved relations with King George III.
Historian Stacy Schiff added that the events in Lexington and Concord “sparked public emotion as early revolutionaries hoped,” though it would take more than a year before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
Uncertain Future at the Time
Neither the British nor the colonists anticipated an eight-year conflict or could predict the nation that would emerge from it. America’s founding generation was united in its desire for self-governance, though deeply divided on how to achieve and sustain it.
