Taxation Without Representation
The American Revolution grew from a dispute over taxation and political representation that escalated into a war for independence. Britain, heavily indebted following the Seven Years' War, attempted to tax its American colonies directly through the Stamp Act (1765) and Townshend Acts (1767). The colonists, who had no elected representatives in the British Parliament, resisted under the principle of "no taxation without representation."
From Resistance to Revolution
The Boston Massacre (1770) and Boston Tea Party (1773) escalated tensions. The First Continental Congress convened in 1774 to coordinate colonial resistance. Fighting began at Lexington and Concord in April 1775. The Second Continental Congress appointed George Washington as commander of the Continental Army. On 4 July 1776, Congress formally adopted the Declaration of Independence, drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson.
The War
The war lasted eight years. The turning point came at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, which convinced France to enter the war on the American side — providing the financial, military and naval support that proved decisive. The siege of Yorktown in 1781, where a combined American-French force trapped British General Cornwallis, effectively ended major combat operations. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally recognised American independence.
Legacy
The United States Constitution (1787) and Bill of Rights (1791) became foundational documents of modern democratic governance. The revolution inspired the French Revolution, the Latin American independence movements, and democratic movements around the world. The principle that governments derive their legitimate authority from the consent of the governed became a cornerstone of modern political thought.
