Overview of Key Events
The American Revolution (1775–1783) was a pivotal conflict that led to the independence of the thirteen American colonies from British rule. Key events began with escalating tensions over taxation and representation, including the Stamp Act of 1765, which imposed direct taxes on colonists, sparking widespread protests. This culminated in the Boston Massacre of 1770, where British soldiers killed five colonists, and the Boston Tea Party of 1773, where colonists dumped tea into Boston Harbor to protest the Tea Act. The First Continental Congress met in 1774 to coordinate resistance, followed by the Battles of Lexington and Concord in April 1775, marking the start of armed conflict.
Major Phases and Turning Points
The revolution unfolded in distinct phases: initial colonial organization, declaration of independence, and decisive military victories. On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, authored primarily by Thomas Jefferson, formally severing ties with Britain. The Battle of Saratoga in 1777 was a crucial turning point, where American forces defeated British troops, convincing France to ally with the colonies. The war concluded with the Siege of Yorktown in 1781, where combined American and French forces trapped British General Cornwallis, leading to his surrender.
Practical Example: The Boston Tea Party
A clear illustration of revolutionary fervor is the Boston Tea Party on December 16, 1773. Disguised as Native Americans, colonists from the Sons of Liberty boarded British ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea overboard to protest the British East India Company's monopoly and the tax on tea without colonial representation. This act of defiance prompted the British Coercive Acts (known as the Intolerable Acts in the colonies), which closed Boston's port and revoked Massachusetts' charter, galvanizing support for independence across the colonies and leading to the First Continental Congress.
Significance and Lasting Impact
The American Revolution's key events established the United States as a sovereign nation through the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which recognized American independence and set boundaries for the new country. It inspired democratic ideals worldwide, influencing revolutions in France and Latin America, and laid the foundation for the U.S. Constitution. The revolution demonstrated the power of unified resistance against tyranny, emphasizing principles of liberty, self-governance, and individual rights that continue to shape modern democracies.