The American Revolutionary War began on April 19, 1775, when the first shots were fired in Lexington, Massachusetts. Six and a half years later, on October 19th, 1781, British forces surrendered to America at Yorktown, Virginia. The conflict began as a fight for the rights of English people in the 13 colonies and ended in the creation of a new nation, the United States of America. This war is also called the American Revolution or the American War of Independence.
The conflict began as a fight for the rights of English people in the 13 colonies and ended in the creation of a new nation, the United States of America. This war is also called the American Revolution or the American War of Independence.
During the 1760's, Great Britain passed laws creating high taxes for the colonists and limiting their settlement and trade. The tea tax led to an American boycott of tea and subsequently the famous event known as the Boston Tea Party when, on December 16, 1773, several hundred Bostonians disguised as Indians dumped 342 cases of tea into the Boston Harbor. "No taxation without representation" was the cry that echoed throughout the colonies.
From 1775 to 1777, the war was between Great Britain and the thirteen British colonies. It became a world war in 1777 when France, Spain and the Netherlands joined the side of the Americans. The war was fought by the Tories (or King's Men) who remained faithful to the British king and the Whigs (or rebels, Americans or Patriots) who opposed the king. The colonists were divided among themselves and neighbor fought neighbor in a bitter civil war between Loyalists and Patriots. Most American Indians east of the Mississippi River joined the British side.
After several years of relative stalemate, when British forces were able to defeat the Colonists and occupy their largest cities, but were unable to hold the countryside or destroy the Continental Army, the siege and capture of Yorktown marked the end of serious fighting. The battle was preceded by a French naval victory in the Chesapeake Bay which temporarily took control of the sea from the British Navy. This led to the surrender of the British (led by Cornwallis) on October 19, 1781, in Yorktown, Virginia after the Americans (led by Washington) and the French had surrounded them.
The total loss of life from the Revolutionary War is unknown, but the total American casualty figure has been estimated as high as 50,000. The Treaty of Paris, which took two years to negotiate and was signed in Paris on September 3, 1783.
Web Sites
- Library of Congress: American Revolution
- National Park Service: American Revolution
- TheAmericanRevolution.Org
Catalog
Search the library's catalog for American Revolution, 1775-1783.
Databases
Enter the phrase Revolutionary War in these databases:
- Expanded Academic ASAP
- Lands and People Online
- The William and Mary Quarterly (Available only in the Virginia Room at the City of Fairfax Regional Library.)
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