The American Revolution was a time when the British colonists in America rebelled against the rule of Great Britain. There were many battles fought and the colonies gained their freedom and became the independent country of the United States. The American Revolutionary War lasted from 1775 until 1783.
13 Colonies
Before the American Revolution, there were several British Colonies in the Americas. Not all of them participated in the revolution. There were 13 colonies which ended up rebelling. These were Delaware, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode Island.
Declaration of Independence by John Trumbull
Representation
One of the main reasons that the colonists rebelled against Great Britain is that they felt they were not represented in the British government. The British government was making new laws and taxes on the colonies, but the colonies had no say. They wanted to have some say in the British government if they were going to pay high taxes and have to live by British law.
War
War didn't happen right away. First there were protests and arguments. Then some small skirmishes between the colonists and the local British army. Things just got worse and worse over the course of years until the colonies and Great Britain were at war.
Independence
Each colony had its own local government. In 1774 they each elected officials to represent them at the First Continental Congress. This was the first effort of the colonies to unite and make a single government. In 1776 the Second Continental Congress declared the independence of the United States from Great Britain.
The Destruction of Tea at Boston Harbor by Nathaniel Currier
New Government
The new government of the United States was different than the government of the colonist's homeland, Great Britain. They decided that they didn't want to be ruled by a king anymore. They wanted a government that was ruled by the people. The new government would be a democratic government with leaders elected by the people and balances of power to make sure that no one could become king.
Interesting Facts about the American Revolution
The first shot fired in the American Revolution was on April 19, 1775 and is called the "shot heard round the world".
John Adams was the defense attorney for the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre. He would later become a great leader in the Revolution and the 2nd president of the United States.
George Washington, the first President, only attended school until he was 14 years old. He became Commander of the Virginia Militia when he was just 23.
The Battle of Bunker Hill was actually fought on Breed's Hill.
Although the war was between the colonies and Great Britain, other countries got involved as well. The French were a major ally to the colonies and there were French, German, and Spanish soldiers who fought in the war.
Recommended books and references:
The Revolutionary War : a sourcebook on colonial America edited by Carter Smith. 1991.
The American Revolution for Kids by Janis Herbert. 2002.
The Revolutionary War by Brendan January. 2000.
The Declaration of Independence: Our Government and Citizenship by Kevin Cunningham. 2005.
The American Revolution: Magic Tree House Reference Guide by Mary Pope Osborne and Natalie Pope Boyce. 2004.
