The American Revolution
The American Revolution was the war from 1775 to 1783 in which thirteen colonies won independence from Britain.
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The American Revolution was the war from 1775 to 1783 in which thirteen colonies won independence from Britain.
- No taxation without representation
- The Declaration of Independence in 1776
- George Washington led the army
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is The American Revolution?
Within History, which covers ancient civilisations, empires, revolutions, world wars and the making of the modern world, this topic explains The American Revolution. History topics connect events, people and ideas across time, so each one here gives a clear summary and a way to test your understanding.
Check that you can explain The American Revolution in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding The American Revolution helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
The American Revolution in detail
The American Revolution (1775–1783) was the war in which 13 British colonies won independence from Britain. Tensions grew after the Seven Years' War, when Britain taxed the colonists without their representation in Parliament, through measures such as the Stamp Act and Tea Act, leading to the Boston Tea Party in 1773.
Fighting began at Lexington and Concord in 1775. The Declaration of Independence, written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted on 4 July 1776. George Washington led the Continental Army, and the victory at Saratoga brought French support, leading to the British surrender at Yorktown in 1781. The new US Constitution created a republic and inspired other revolutions.
How the interactive helps you understand The American Revolution
Watch the timeline in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the timeline responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of The American Revolution.
Real-life uses and examples
- Explain the causes and consequences of The American Revolution in a well-structured paragraph.
- Compare The American Revolution with another event to spot patterns of change and continuity.
- Build a timeline that shows when The American Revolution happened and what came before and after.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing events without explaining why they happened.
- Treating one source as the whole story when you study The American Revolution.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about The American Revolution
What is The American Revolution?
The American Revolution was the war from 1775 to 1783 in which thirteen colonies won independence from Britain.
What are the most important points about The American Revolution?
The main points are: No taxation without representation; The Declaration of Independence in 1776; George Washington led the army.
Why is The American Revolution useful?
Understanding The American Revolution helps you explain change over time and judge why events happened, which is the core skill in history essays.
How can I practise The American Revolution?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to The American Revolution?
Related topics in History include The Industrial Revolution, Victorian Britain, The Scramble for Africa.