The American Revolution happened between 1775 and 1783, when the 13 colonies in North America fought to become free from British rule. Before the war, these colonies were controlled by Great Britain, and King George III was in charge. The colonists had to pay lots of taxes to Britain, and they didn’t have any say in the British government, which made them upset. They wanted the right to make their own laws and decisions.

Things started to get worse when the British passed laws like the Stamp Act in 1765, which raised the prices of paper and other everyday items. People in the colonies became angry because they felt it was unfair to pay so much for things they needed. This anger grew when more taxes were added on items like glass, tea, and paint through the Townshend Acts of 1767.

In 1770, tensions boiled over when British soldiers shot and killed five American colonists in what is now called the Boston Massacre. This event further united the colonies in their desire for independence. Then, in 1773, the Boston Tea Party happened. Colonists, upset about the taxes on tea, dumped a lot of it into the ocean. Britain responded by closing Boston’s harbor, which made the situation even worse.

In 1774, representatives from the colonies met for the First Continental Congress, where they tried to find a peaceful way to settle things with Britain. However, when King George III refused to listen to their complaints, the colonies began preparing for war.

The first battle of the American Revolution took place in April 1775 at Lexington and Concord, Massachusetts. This battle marked the beginning of the war. American colonists, led by people like George Washington, fought bravely. Over time, they gained more support from countries like France and Spain, which helped them win key battles.

One of the most important battles was the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, where the American army won a big victory over the British. This gave the colonists hope and convinced other nations to support them. By 1781, the British were losing strength, and after the Battle of Yorktown, they decided to give up. In 1783, a peace treaty was signed, officially making the United States an independent country.

The United States was founded on the idea that all people are equal and have rights like liberty and freedom of speech. This was the beginning of a new nation that would inspire others around the world to fight for their own independence. Today, we remember the American Revolution as the moment when the United States was born.

Source: Revolutionary War
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