Shot heard round the world facts for kids

"The shot heard round the world" is a famous phrase. It describes the very first shot fired in the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. This event marked the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. This war eventually led to the creation of the United States. The phrase has also been used for other important events, like the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in 1914, which started World War I.

What Does "The Shot Heard Round the World" Mean?

The phrase "shot heard round the world" comes from a poem called "Concord Hymn" (1837) by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It refers to the first shot fired at the Old North Bridge in Concord, Massachusetts. This is where the first British soldiers were killed in the battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775.

The First Shots of the American Revolution

It's hard to say exactly which shot was the very first one of the war. Shots were fired earlier on that day in Lexington, Massachusetts. Eight Americans died there, and a British soldier was slightly hurt. However, what exactly happened in Lexington is still a bit confusing.

The fight at the North Bridge was different. It was the first time Americans fired shots under clear orders. It was also the first organized volley (many shots fired together) by Americans. This skirmish also saw the first British soldiers die and the first time British troops had to retreat.

A Debate Over History

For a long time, the towns of Lexington and Concord have debated which town was truly the "birthplace" of the American Revolution. This debate started in 1824 when the Marquis de Lafayette, a French hero of the Revolution, visited the towns.

Lexington welcomed him as the "birthplace of American liberty." But then Concord told him that the "first forceful resistance" happened there. Even President Ulysses S. Grant tried to avoid this debate when he considered not attending the 1875 celebrations. Today, the holiday celebrating these events is called Patriots' Day.

A Spark for World War I

The phrase "shot heard round the world" is also linked to the start of World War I. This happened with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo on June 28, 1914. This event is seen as one of the main reasons World War I began.

A Serbian man named Gavrilo Princip fired two shots. The first hit Franz Ferdinand's wife, Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg. The second shot hit the Archduke himself. The death of Franz Ferdinand, who was next in line to the Austro-Hungarian throne, quickly led Austria-Hungary and the rest of Europe into the huge conflict of World War I.

What Else Does the Phrase Mean?

Even today, "Shot heard round the world" is a common phrase. People use it to describe any extraordinary or very important event. It has even been used to talk about dramatic moments in sports history.

Images for kids

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  The Battle of Lexington, by William Barnes Wollen.