The British defeated the French and their allies in the French and Indian War (1754-1763). The result was British control over much of North America. But the war cost a lot of money and Parliament passed the Stamp Act to raise taxes. The colonists were outraged at their lack of representation in government.
British Parliament kept enacting new taxations-the people of Boston were very outspoken in their defiance and threatened British officials. In reaction to this, the King sent reinforcements to America. The result was the Boston Massacre: five protesters were killed at the hands of British men. The was the first blood and greatly angered the American people.
In 1773, the East India Company (owned by Britain) was granted a monopoly on the importation of tea. The British soon enacted the expensive Tea Act, leaving the Americans no choice but to pay the tax. In protest, Samuel Adams and the Sons of Liberty disguised themselves as Mohawk Indians and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston harbor. British Parliament responded with the "Intolerable Acts": -accused colonists could be tried in England -American homes were forced to host British troops -Boston harbor was closed
In response to the "Intolerable Acts", all 13 colonies (with the exception of Georgia) came together to form the First Continental Congress. 56 delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss how to return to a state of harmonious relations with England. But radical thinking won out-Parliamentary acts were declared "unconstitutional." Taxes were not paid, an import-export ban was established, and Colonists were urged to arm themselves. They also attempted to petition King George III to end the excessive power. Though George's reaction was more tyranny, this marked the first time the entire country came together in unity since America's colonization.
On April 19, 1775, British and American soldiers exchanged fire in the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord. On the night of April 18, King George III commanded 700 British soldiers to suppress the rebellious Americans by seizing the colonists’ military stores in Concord. The Americans were aware of this incoming attack, so they set up a system of communication to warn the people of Concord when this attack would occur. Paul Revere noticed a lantern that was displayed in the steeple of Christ Church on the night of April 18, 1775. He then made his way through Concord screaming "The British are coming!" This warning led to a successful defense of the Concord stronghold, but officially marked the beginning of the Revolutionary War through the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
The Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia on May 10, 1775 and they declared themselves the government. They also named George Washington Commander in Chief of the newly organized army.
In June 1775, the Battle of Bunker Hill resulted in about 400 American and 1,054 British casualties. This was the first major battle of the war and, though the British technically won the hill and the battle, the British endured such heavy losses that it gave the Americans great confidence towards the rest of the war. The famous quote "Don't fire until you can see the whites of their eyes" was made famous in this battle.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, which announced that the thirteen American colonies, then at war with Great Britain, regarded themselves as thirteen newly independent sovereign states, and no longer a part of the British Empire. Instead they formed a new nation—the United States of America is born.
After years of brutal fighting for Washington and his men (including help from the French), the leader of the British troops, General Cornwallis, is forced to surrender. Though a peace treaty isn't signed until two years later, the war for American independence is essentially over.
The Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War on September 3, 1783. It was signed in Paris by Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay. Under the terms of the treaty, Britain recognized the independent nation of the United States of America. Britain agreed to remove all of its troops from the new nation. The treaty also set new borders for the United States, including all land from the Great Lakes on the north to Florida on the south, and from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River. The United States agreed to allow British troops still in America to leave and also agreed to pay all existing debts owed to Great Britain. The United States also allowed those that left America to return.
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