Shot heard around the world?

Posted by Chris on September 06, 2001

In Reply to: Shot heard around the world? posted by Bob on September 05, 2001

The "shot heard around the world" refers to the battle at Lexington and Concord that started the Revolutionary War. When we won our independence, we became the first democracy in modern times (all other counties at that time were either monarchies or colonies of monarchies). About 20 years later, France overthrew its king in the French Revolution and then the ball really started rolling. Inspired by the United States, the colonies of Spain and Portugal in Latin America and South America declared their independence. Later on came the colonies of the European powers in Asia and Africa.
So "the shot heard round the world" refers to the battle that started the elimination of the all powerful ruling monarchies (not to be confused with the figurehead monarchies still in Britain, Spain, Sweden, etc.) and the worldwide spread of democraticly elected government.

• Shot heard around the world? masakim 09/08/01