The year that marked the start of the American Revolutionary War was 1775. Hostilities began in April with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, where colonial militias confronted British troops. Rising tensions between the American colonies and British authorities had been brewing over issues like taxation without representation, leading to calls for greater autonomy. The conflict ultimately escalated as colonists united against British rule, culminating in the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The Revolutionary War represented a significant struggle for self-governance, liberty, and democratic ideals that would influence the course of history in both America and beyond.