The American Revolution

The revolt of thirteen British colonies that created the United States of America.

Background

After the Seven Years' War, Britain sought to raise revenue from its North American colonies through measures such as the Stamp Act of 1765. Colonists objected to being taxed without representation in Parliament, and boycotts, protests and incidents such as the Boston Tea Party of 1773 raised tensions.

Course of events

Fighting began at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776. An alliance with France in 1778 strengthened the American side, and the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781 led to the Treaty of Paris of 1783.

Legacy

The new republic adopted a written constitution in 1787 and a Bill of Rights soon after. Its ideas of popular sovereignty and natural rights inspired movements elsewhere, even though slavery and the exclusion of many groups from political life remained unresolved.