American Revolutionary War

The American Revolutionary War was a conflict fought between Great Britain and thirteen of its colonies in North America. The war lasted from 1775 to 1783. The colonies were ruled by the British government, which was far away in London. Over time, many colonists became unhappy with British control and wanted to govern themselves.

One major cause of the war was disagreement over laws and taxes. Britain passed new taxes on the colonies after earlier wars, including the Stamp Act and Tea Act. A tax is money people must pay to the government. Many colonists argued that these taxes were unfair because they had no elected representatives in the British Parliament. Parliament is the law-making body of Britain. This situation was often described as "taxation without representation."

Tensions grew, and fighting began in April 1775 at the battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. Local colonial soldiers, called militia, fought British troops. A militia is a group of citizens who serve as soldiers when needed. After these battles, the colonies organized a larger army known as the Continental Army. George Washington was chosen as its commander.

In 1776, colonial leaders met in Philadelphia and issued the Declaration of Independence. This document announced that the colonies were separating from British rule. It was written mainly by Thomas Jefferson. The declaration explained the reasons for independence and stated that the colonies were now independent states. Britain did not accept this decision, and the war continued.

The war included many battles across the colonies. Some important battles were fought at Saratoga and Yorktown. The Battle of Saratoga in 1777 was a turning point, meaning it changed the direction of the war. After this battle, France decided to support the colonies. France provided soldiers, ships, and supplies. Other countries, including Spain and the Netherlands, also fought against Britain.

The final major battle took place at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. British General Charles Cornwallis was surrounded by American and French forces. He surrendered his army, which greatly weakened British efforts. Fighting slowed after this event. The war officially ended in 1783 with the Treaty of Paris. In this treaty, Britain recognized the independence of the United States. The American Revolutionary War resulted in the creation of a new nation and changed political relations across the Atlantic world.