The American Revolution
Thirteen colonies broke from Britain and created the United States.
About this topic
The American Revolution (1775 to 1783) was a war in which thirteen British colonies in North America won independence from Great Britain. After the costly French and Indian War, Britain taxed the colonies, with acts such as the Stamp Act (1765), Townshend duties and Tea Act, but colonists had no representatives in Parliament, so they protested no taxation without representation. The Boston Tea Party of 1773 led to the Coercive (Intolerable) Acts.
Fighting began at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. The Second Continental Congress chose George Washington to command the Continental Army, and on July 4, 1776 approved the Declaration of Independence, written mainly by Thomas Jefferson, based on Enlightenment ideas of natural rights and consent of the governed. Washington's crossing of the Delaware and the victory at Saratoga in 1777 persuaded France to ally with the Americans, and the British surrendered at Yorktown in 1781.
The Treaty of Paris (1783) recognized independence. The new nation wrote the Articles of Confederation, then the Constitution in 1787, creating a federal republic with separated powers and later a Bill of Rights. The revolution inspired others in France and Latin America. Misconception: not all colonists supported it; Loyalists remained loyal, and rights initially excluded women, enslaved people and Native Americans.
Key ideas
- No taxation without representation
- Declaration of Independence 1776
- Constitution 1787
Quick check
Use cases: where The American Revolution helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind The American Revolution before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall The American Revolution without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how The American Revolution changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain The American Revolution in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Studying the past helps explain today’s politics, borders, cultures and institutions.
Frequently asked questions
What is The American Revolution?
Thirteen colonies broke from Britain and created the United States.
What will I learn in The American Revolution?
No taxation without representation. Declaration of Independence 1776. Constitution 1787.
Is The American Revolution part of World History?
Yes. It is one of 80 World History topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the The American Revolution lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study The American Revolution?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.