Considered a truly important event in history, the Shot Heard 'Around the World' made headlines. This was the beginning of the Battle of Lexington and Concord, the first official battle of the Revolutionary War. On April 19, 1775, British troops marched toward Lexington and Concord, where many militiamen were already awaiting their arrival. The British were looking for militia ammunition. Paul Revere had previously warned the militias so that they could prepare. Many people are unaware that Paul Revere was accompanied by William Dawes on his midnight ride. As soon as the militia learned that British troops were on the way, they removed their ammunition stocks from their hiding places and transferred them to a new safehouse. When the British arrived in Lexington, they found the militia in position, ready to defend themselves. The British stopped and prepared to confront the militia. Both sides remained silent, holding their ground until a gunshot rang out. Once the first shot was fired, the Battle of Lexington and Concord began. This also meant that the Revolutionary War was beginning. It is not clear which side fired the first shot. Historians have been able to use this to their advantage. They had the ability to paint a picture of a large British army banding together but "being defeated by a small rebel army" (Where did the shot heard round the world occur?). Both sides claimed the other fired the first shot, only adding to the already evident tension. Meanwhile, a separate group of British soldiers reached the destination where they had been told they would find the ammunition stocks. After searching the area, they realized the stock had been moved. The phrase "A Shot Heard Around the World" was coined by Ralph Waldo Emerson in the middle of an article......The Shot Heard Around the World | History of the American Revolution | 1775 | Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Internet. April 15, 2014. “Timeline of the Revolutionary War.” Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association, nd Web. April 14, 2014. "The Shot Heard Around the World | History of the American Revolution | 1775 | Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum." The shot heard around the world | History of the American Revolution | 1775 | Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Np, and Web. April 15, 2014. “Where Did the Shot Heard Around the World Happen?” » History of Massachusetts. Np, and Web. April 15. 2014. .