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American War of Independence 1775 - 1783
Declaration of Independence: July 4th 1776

 

American War of Independence 1775 - 1783

The American War of Independence, also called the American Revolution, or the American Revolutionary War, was fought from 1775 until 1783.


Image Above

Declaration of Independence: July 4th 1776. Lithograph, hand colored. N. Currier (Firm), created between 1835 and 1856. Library of Congress.

 

The American Revolution in a Nutshell

Thirteen mainland colonies of British North America declared their independence on July 4, 1776, to form the United States of America.

The War of Independence started as a civil war but soon became an international war when France, Spain, and the Netherlands joined the colonies against Britain.


And here is the map:

Map of the Principal Campaigns of the American Revolutionary War 1775-1783
Map of the Principal Campaigns
of the American Revolution



Key Issues of the American Revolution

During the  French and Indian Wars, Britain had spent quite some money for the colonies’ defense and attempted to get repayment.

The colonies argued that Britain would have the right to impose taxes, so long as the colonies were represented in Parliament; therefore, taxation without representation was unacceptable. The tone became sharper on both sides and a boycott of British goods was discussed in the colonies.

Unrest increased as colonial radicals purposely fueled the dispute to break with Britain. They argued that the Empire generally handled political and economical issues detrimental to their interest. The Boston Massacre in 1770 and the
 Boston Tea Party in 1773 were an indicator of the growing tension.


Map of the American Colonies: Population Density 1775
American Colonies: Population Density 1775



 

What Started the American Revolution?

The Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, were the beginning of the American Revolution.

To avoid armed rebellion, a British force came to seize colonists’ weapons at Concord, a town near Boston. The colonists had been forewarned and intercepted the British at Lexington Green. Shots were exchanged, and some Americans were killed.

Arriving at Concord, the British were confronted and outnumbered by the colonial militia and had to withdraw to Boston while being attacked on all sides.

Number of casualties in the battles of Lexington and Concord:
British: 73 killed, 174 wounded, 26 missing
American: 93 dead, wounded, or missing (some say 95)

The Americans were ready to drive the British out of Boston and started the  Siege of Boston.


Map of the Battle of Lexington and Concord - April 19, 1775
Map of the Battle of Lexington and Concord
April 19, 1775





What Ended the American Revolution?

The last major battle took place on October 19, 1781. It ended with the surrender of British General Corwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. However, for all parties to negotiate acceptable terms required some time.
 

Battle of Guilford Court House, 1781.
Battle of Guilford Court House,
March 15, 1781



The American Revolution officially ended with the
Peace of Paris 1783. Great Britain acknowledged the independence of the United States, with the Mississippi River as the western boundary. Navigation on the river remained open to both nations.



The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis
at Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781.

 

Map of North America After the 1763 Treaty of Paris
Map of North America After the 1763 Treaty of Paris

Treaty of Paris 1763
Library of Congress

 

Map of North America After the 1783 Treaty of Paris
Map of North America After the 1783 Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Paris 1783
Library of Congress



 

Casualties of the American Revolution

Estimates differ. Some historians say that the Revolution claimed a total of 25,000 lives. Others estimate American losses at 4,400, British losses 6,800, and German losses at 1,200.

Check the American war casualties report

 

What Impact Did the American Revolution Have?

The American Revolution caused many Europeans to reassess their own government. The idea that a country actually could decide upon its government was exciting and appealed especially to those in lower social classes.

 

American Revolution Trivia

To remedy a lack of troops, the British hired the services of approximately 30,000 German mercenary soldiers. The majority of the Germans came from the German state Hesse-Cassel; thus they became known as the Hessians.


How much did this war cost?

 Check the costs of major US wars in comparison.



And here is a map of the campaigns of the American Revolution:

Campaigns of the American Revolution, 1775-1781. Inset:The West and South, 1778-1781.
AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Click on map to enlarge

 

The Battles of the American Revolution

1775, April 19

Battles of Lexington and Concord, American victory

Map of the Battle of Lexington and Concord - April 19, 1775
Map of the Battle of
Lexington and Concord

 

1775, April 20 - 1776, March 17

Siege of Boston, American victory

Map of the Siege of Boston 1776
Map of the Siege of Boston
 

1775, June 17

Battle of Bunker Hill, Massachusetts, British victory
(also called Battle of Breed's Hill)
Trivia: Wee
John Quincy Adams watched the Battle of Bunker Hill from the top of Penn's Hill above the family farm.

Map of the Battle of Bunker Hill - June 17, 1775
Map of the Battle of Bunker Hill

Map of the Battle of Bunker Hill - June 17, 1775 - First British Attack
Battle of Bunker Hill - First British Attack

Map of the Battle of Bunker Hill - June 17, 1775 - Second British Attack
Bunker Hill - Second British Attack

Map of the Battle of Bunker Hill - June 17, 1775 - Final British Attack
Battle of Bunker Hill - Final British Attack

 

1775, December 31

 Battle of Quebec
 

1776, February 27

Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge, North Carolina, American victory
 

1776, August 27

Battle of Long Island, New York, British victory

Map of the Battle of Long Island - August 27, 1776
Map of the Battle of Long Island
 

1776, September 16

Battle of Harlem Heights, New York, American victory

Map of the Battle of Harlem Heights - September 16, 1776
Map of the Battle of Harlem Heights
 

1776, October 11

Battle of Valcour Island, New York, Draw

Map of the Battle of Valcour Island - October 11, 1776
Map of the Battle of Valcour Island
 

1776, October 28

Battle of White Plains, New York, Draw
 

1776, November 16

Battle of Fort Washington, New York, British victory
 

1776, December 26

Battle of Trenton, New Jersey, American victory

Map of the Battles of Trenton and Princeton 1776-7
Map of the Christmas Campaign

Map of the Battle of Trenton - December 26, 1776
Map of the Battle of Trenton
 

1777, January 3

Battle of Princeton, New Jersey, American victory

Map of the Battle of Princeton - January 3, 1777
Map of the Battle of Princeton
 

1777, June 21 - October 17
 

 Saratoga Campaign

Map of the Saratoga Campaign 1777
Saratoga Campaign 1777

 

1777, July 6

Battle of Ticonderoga, northeastern New York, capture of Fort Ticonderoga by the British

Map of the Battle of Ticonderoga - July 6, 1777
Map of the Battle of Ticonderoga
 

1777, August 6
 

Battle of Oriskany (Battle of Oriska), Oriskany Creek, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution

The Original Plan for the British Invasion of New York — June-October 1777 / Oriskany Battlefield
Map of the Oriskany Battlefield

1775 - Mohawk River Valley
Mohawk River Valley
 

1777, August 16
 

Battle of Bennington, Vermont, today's Walloomsac, New York

Colonists, led by John Stark, defeat the British, led by Friedrich Baum.
 

1777, September 11

Battle of the Brandywine, Brandywine Creek, Pennsylvania, British victory

Map of the Battle of the Brandywine - September 11, 1777
Map of the Battle of the Brandywine

Battle of the Brandywine - Map
Map 2 of the Battle of the Brandywine
 

1777, September 19

 First Battle of Saratoga, also called: First Battle of Freeman's Farm, New York, American victory

Map of the First Battle of Saratoga - September 19, 1777
Map of the First Battle of Saratoga - Operations September 17-19, 1777

Map of the First Battle of Saratoga - Initial Dispositions - September 19, 1777
First Battle of Saratoga -
Initial Dispositions

Map of the First Battle of Saratoga at 1300 Hours - September 19, 1777
First Battle of Saratoga:
Battle Situation at 1300 Hours

Map of the First Battle of Saratoga at 1500 Hours - September 19, 1777
First Battle of Saratoga:
Battle Situation at 1500 Hours

Map of the First Battle of Saratoga at 1700 Hours - September 19, 1777
First Battle of Saratoga:
Battle Situation at 1700 Hours

 

1777, October 4

Battle of Germantown, Pennsylvania, British victory

Map of the Battle of Germantown - October 4, 1777
Map of the Battle of Germantown
 

1777, October 6

Battles of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton, west side of the Hudson River, British attack and victory led by General Henry Clinton

Map of the Battle of Fort Montgomery - October 6, 1777
Map of the Battles of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton: Prelude

Map of the Battle of Fort Montgomery - October 6, 1777
Map of the Battles of Fort Montgomery and Fort Clinton
 

1777, October 7

 Second Battle of Saratoga
also called Second Battle of Freeman's Farm or the Battle of Bemis Heights, New York, American victory

Map of the Second Battle of Saratoga: Initial Dispositions - October 7, 1777
Map of the Second Battle of Saratoga: Initial Dispositions

Map of the Second Battle of Saratoga - October 7, 1777
Map of the Second Battle of Saratoga

Map of the American Revolution: Burgoyne's Camp October 11-17, 1777
Burgoyne's Camp - October 11-17, 1777
 

1778, June 28

Battle of Monmouth, also called Battle of Monmouth Court House, Monmouth, New Jersey, Draw

Map of the Battle of Monmouth - June 28, 1778
Map of the Battle of Monmouth

And speaking about help in the trenches...

Molly Pitcher might or might not have been the lady people today would love to believe. If she was, her real name was Mary Hays, married to William Hays, who fought in this battle. Mary might have been the good soul who carried water to the soldiers and maybe even shot at the enemy herself when her husband was wounded.
 

1779, July 16

Battle of Stony Point, Stony Point, New York, American victory

Map of the Battle of Stony Point - July 16, 1779
Map of the Battle of Stony Point

Map of the Battle of Stony Point: Attack - July 16, 1779
Map of the Battle of Stony Point: Attack
 

1780, April 1-May 12

Siege of Charleston, South Carolina

Map of the Siege of Charleston 1780
1780 Siege of Charleston
 

1780, August 16

Battle of Camden, South Carolina, British victory

Map of the Battle of Camden - August 16, 1780
Map of the Battle of Camden
 

1780, October 7

Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina, American victory
 

1781, January 17

Battle of Cowpens, South Carolina, American victory

Map of the Battle of Cowpens - January 17, 1781
Map of the Battle of Cowpens

Map of the Battle of Cowpens: British Attack - January 17, 1781
Battle of Cowpens: British Attack

Map of the Battle of Cowpens: American Counterattack - January 17, 1781
Battle of Cowpens: American Counterattack
 

1781, March 9 - May 10

 

Siege of Pensacola, British West Florida, Spanish victory

1781, March 15

Battle of Guilford Courthouse, North Carolina, British victory

Map of the Battle of Guilford Courthouse - March 15, 1781
Battle of Guilford Courthouse
 

1781, September 5

Battle of Virginia Capes, near Chesapeake Bay, naval battle, American (French) victory
 

1781, September 8

Battle of Eutaw Springs, South Carolina

Map of the Battle of Eutaw Springs - September 8, 1781
Map of the Battle of Eutaw Springs
 

1781, September 28 - October 19

Siege of Yorktown, Virginia, American victory

Map of the March to Yorktown 1781
March to Yorktown,
August-September 1781

Map of the Siege of Yorktown - September 28-October 19, 1781
Siege of Yorktown
 

 


 

Timelines of the American Revolution

Timeline of the American Revolution (USMA)

Timeline of the American Revolution (EK)

 


 

The American Revolution and the Native Americans

Thayendanegea, aka Joseph Brant, was a notable Native American who fought in the American Revolution. A Mohawk Indian chief, he became a Christian missionary as well as a British military officer. This made sense because his sister Molly was married to Sir William Johnson, the British superintendent for northern Indian affairs.

 

The American Revolution and the Spanish

Spain decided the American Revolution was a good opportunity to take back Gibraltar from the British, who had occupied The Rock since 1704 (see War of the Spanish Succession).

On June 21, 1779, Spain declared war on Britain and commenced the Great Siege of Gibraltar.

More than three years later, on February 3, 1783, the Great Siege ended. Britain kept Gibraltar (see Treaty of Versailles of 1783).

 

The American Revolution and the Dutch

Britain didn't appreciate the trade that went on between the Americans and the Dutch, so they declared war on the United Provinces on December 20, 1780, thus starting the  Fourth Anglo-Dutch War (1780-1784).

Peace was officially restored with the Treaty of Paris of 1784.

 

The American Revolution and the French

French support was especially crucial to the American victory. Inspired by the American Revolution, the French started their own revolution shortly after.

See more under  French Revolution.

Regarding French aid to the Americans, see also Vergennes.

And the 1783 peace treaty between Great Britain and France was the Treaty of Versailles.

 

 

See also what is sometimes called America's Second War of Independence, the War of 1812.

And maybe, the American Timeline.

 

 

 

 

 

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