Shoeless Soldiers. Spy Rings. Sneak Attacks.

On April 19, 1775, two groups of armed men faced off in Concord, Massachusetts. On one side were about 220 British soldiers, determined to destroy weapons stockpiled by American colonists. On the other side were nearly 400 colonists, equally determined to stop them. Shots rang out and a battle ensued—the first of the American Revolution (1775-1783).

What led to this outbreak of war? Since 1607, Great Britain had controlled colonies in North America. The people living there were British subjects but had become used to some self-rule. Then, in the 1760s, the British government began to issue new laws, including taxes on tea and other popular imports. Many colonists objected, demanding a greater say in how they were governed.

With each new law, their anger grew. Britain sent soldiers to crack down on protests in Massachusetts and, in February 1775, declared that the colony was in rebellion. Tensions ratcheted higher—and on April 19, 1775, in Concord and nearby Lexington, Massachusetts, they exploded.

This month marks 250 years since the American Revolution began. Can you tell fact from fiction when it comes to the war? Decide whether each statement is accurate. Then find out the story behind it.

FALSE: Britain had a big advantage: a highly disciplined and well-trained professional military. Washington’s Continental Army was far from that. Although eager to defend their land, few American soldiers had combat experience. Most were farmers, shopkeepers, and other civilians who had stepped up to serve.

The troops were also poorly equipped. Most men fought with firearms from home and wore their own clothes and boots. (There wasn’t an official uniform until 1779.) They suffered from shortages of food and ammunition, and when their boots wore out, some marched on bare feet wrapped in rags.

The Continental Army’s chances of victory seemed slim. But it pulled off a few early successes, including a surprise attack at the Battle of Trenton in 1776. And with training, discipline, and better supplies, the American troops became a much tougher opponent.

FALSE: The Declaration wasn’t issued until July 4, 1776—more than a year after the war began. Early on, the colonists weren’t fighting for independence. Most wanted more of a connection to Britain: to have representatives in Britain’s government so they could have a say in laws affecting them.

But as it became clear that Britain had no intention of allowing that, Americans began to call for independence instead. The Continental Congress, a governing body with members from every colony, decided to take action. Member Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration, spelling out why Americans were breaking ties with Britain. Signed by Continental Congress members from every colony, the document marked the birth of the United States.

TRUE: France, a longtime rival of Britain, was the first foreign country to support the American cause. Even before the new nation was established in July 1776, France was secretly sending aid. The two countries became formal allies in February 1778, three months after the Americans’ decisive victory in the Battle of Saratoga. The money, weapons, troops, and officers sent by France gave the Americans a major boost.

Spain and the Dutch Republic (now the Netherlands) also aided the U.S. Britain was supported by Hessians—hired soldiers from a territory in what is now part of Germany.

Several Native nations joined the fighting too. The Oneida, for example, sided with the U.S., while the Mohawk sided with Britain. Other Native nations, such as the Cherokee, were split: Some of their people backed the Americans, others the British.

FALSE: Washington wasn’t just commander in chief of the American forces—he was also a spymaster! He headed a network of secret agents known as the Culper Spy Ring. The agents gathered details about Britain’s strengths, weaknesses, and battle plans. Then, using invisible inks, secret codes, and other undercover tactics, the spies passed vital intelligence from one agent to another until it reached Washington.

Many other people kept tabs on the British too. Like the Culper crew, these spies came from every walk of life: wealthy landowners and poor servants; men, women, and children; and Black people both enslaved and free. While going about their daily lives, they encountered British officers who didn’t see them as threats. This enabled the spies to overhear plans or memorize maps and letters—then get the information to the Continental Army. As one British officer later said, “Washington did not really outfight the British, he simply outspied us.”

FALSE: The Battle of Yorktown, fought in October 1781, was the last military clash. Washington had the upper hand in that fight: He had 19,900 men; British General Charles Cornwallis had barely 9,000. After suffering heavy losses, Cornwallis surrendered. The fighting was over, but the war didn’t officially end for another two years. On September 3, 1783, in France, representatives of Britain and the U.S. signed the Treaty of Paris. With that formal recognition of the U.S. as an independent nation, the American Revolution was over.