The American Revolution
The war of American independence is known in history as that of the American republic. Most of the British colonies in North America wanted to be free for the colonists had come over from Britain to North America to enjoy the freedom of worship and they were hard working and well educated.
The colonists in the south had big estates and they had slaves working in them. But all the thirteen colonists had their own self-government and they did not like Britain to use them for her own benefit. They had no representation in the British Parliament. So they refused to pay taxes saying no taxation without representation.
During the ‘Seven years war’ Britain wanted part of the expenses of maintaining a standing army in America to protect all colonies from the attack of the Red Indians to be met by the colonies and levied a tax for the same. The colonies protested as it was levied by the parliament in which they had no representation. So, Britain levied a tax on tea, an important import of America. When the ships carrying loads of tea arrived at the harbor of Boston in America, some of the colonists got into the ship and threw all the loads into the sea. This was known as the ‘Boston tea party.’
To punish the colonists for this act, Britain closed the Boston harbour. War broke out between Britain and the colonies which went on for eight long years.
All the colonies desiring freedom joined together under the leadership of George Washington. But they had no trained army nor they had any military discipline. George Washington had to train his army first and then he had to find the arms for his men.
At first the colonies suffered defeat after defeat. But the fortunes of war soon turned against the British, A British army surrendered to the Americans at Saratoga. This made France and Spain to enter the war on behalf of the colonists. The British army again surrendered to the Americans at ‘York town.
Already on the 4th of July 1776 the American colonies had declared themselves independent. This was the great American declaration of Independence.
it was the birth certificate for a new nation, the United States of America. At the end of the war, the independence of the colonies was recognized.
They framed a constitution for their country and George Washington, the leader who helped to unite them and lead them towards Independence was elected the first President of the United States of America.
