The phrase "the shot heard 'round the world" is associated with the first battle of the American Revolutionary War, the Battles of Lexington and Concord. This phrase refers specifically to the initial gunfire exchanged on April 19, 1775, which marked the start of armed conflict between Great Britain and its Thirteen Colonies in North America. The Lexington encounter signaled the first open military engagement of the revolution. The significance of this event lies in its role as a catalyst for wider rebellion, symbolizing the fight for independence and freedom from British rule, resonating through history as an emblem of resistance.