On April 19, 1775 the battles of Lexington and Concord were fought. Though small, these battles were of complex and crucial importance in launching the further rebellions, decisions, and shifts of opinion that led to the American Revolution. Consequently, these battles are often viewed as the start of American independence and the American Revolution. While neither the British nor the Colonists won these battles, and losses were heavy on both sides, the outcome served to radicalize the American patriots and rendered the British defensive and threatened. Nevertheless, a majority of the colonists initially remained loyal to the Crown and Britain remained the greatest military power in the world. What were the causes of the battles? What actually occurred during the fighting? And what did the battles prove? This book explores these questions by: providing a context for the battles, describing their course, and considering their significance in terms of their immediate aftermath, their long-term effect and the role of armed conflict in historical events. Lavishly illustrated and enriched with maps, thumbnail biographies, and quotations both colorful and relevant, "Lexington and Concord" tells a compelling story in a detailed and thoughtful way. The American Battlefilds series: The concept of American Battlefields is to show how military conflicts influence history. It does this by describing three stages of historical events: first, the situation that exists as prelude to the battle, second, the details of the battle itself; third, how future events are influenced, or even determined, by the outcome of the battle. It also shows how lost battles can lead to larger victories, and how battleswon can fail to help an overall lost cause.