What event triggered the start of the American Revolutionary War?

The correct answer is the Battles of Lexington and Concord because these engagements, fought on April 19, 1775, are widely recognized as the first military confrontations of the American Revolutionary War. The skirmishes marked the transition from political conflict and protests against British policies to armed resistance. British troops were sent to seize colonial military supplies, which led to a confrontation with colonial militia, culminating in a significant moment that galvanized the colonies into unified action against British rule.

While the other events listed are significant in the context of the Revolutionary War, they preceded the actual outbreak of fighting. The signing of the Declaration of Independence, for example, symbolized the colonies' intent to separate from British rule but occurred in 1776, after hostilities had already begun. The Boston Tea Party was a pivotal protest against British taxation policies in 1773, which heightened tensions but did not directly lead to the outbreak of war. The Intolerable Acts were punitive measures imposed by Britain in response to colonial unrest, creating more animosity, but they did not initiate the armed conflict. Thus, the Battles of Lexington and Concord serve as the definitive starting point for the revolutionary war.