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The Battles of Lexington and Concord are widely recognized as the events that marked the beginning of the American Revolution. These battles took place on April 19, 1775, and were the first military engagements between colonial militia and British troops. They set the stage for a larger conflict as they represented the first organized resistance of the American colonies against British authority.

The significance of these battles lies not only in their outcome but also in their symbolism; they demonstrated that the colonies were willing to take up arms in defense of their rights and liberties. The skirmishes at Lexington and Concord galvanized colonial support for rebellion, ultimately leading to a unified effort against British rule and contributing to the broader struggle for independence.

The other listed events occurred later in the timeline of the revolutionary movement. The Boston Tea Party, while a significant act of defiance against British taxation, happened in 1773, before these battles. The Boston Massacre, which occurred in 1770, was an important event in shaping colonial sentiment against Britain but did not initiate armed conflict. The signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 formally proclaimed the independence of the colonies but came after the conflict had already begun with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.