AMERICAN REVOLUTION 1775

The American Revolution (1775-1783)

The American Revolution, also known as the Revolutionary War or the American War of
Independence, was fought between Britain and its thirteen colonies in North America from
1775 to 1783. There are several contributing reasons for the war. This lecture will pinpoint
the main reasons.

Reasons for the Revolutionary War

1. The colonists refused the fact that other people from another place (Britain) controlled them
and told them how to live. The colonies were bothered by Parliament's control.

2. Britain believed that the colonies were established for the benefit of the mother country. This
idea was called mercantilism. Therefore, from 1651 to 1763 Parliament in England passed a
number of acts, referred to as the Navigation Acts, to increase both its profits from the
colonies and its interference.

3. The French and Indian War: From 1754 to 1763, a war was fought in North America
between Britain and France, both allied with a number of Indian tribes. As the map below
shows the war was fought at the borders to own more lands and territories, exactly to control
the Ohio area. The French occupied Canada and wanted to expand south and the British
wanted to expand west.
In 1758, the British made peace with the Indians who had already allied with the French.
The latter became weaker as a number of Indians abandoned them. Although Spain joined
the war to side with the French against Britain, France lost control of Quebec one year later.
The war finished in 1763 with the French defeat and signing of the Treaty of Paris,
according to which France gave away all her territories in North America to Spain and
Britain, and Spain too abandoned Florida for Britain.
The Indians who had already been allies with the French did not like the fact that the British
now controlled their lands. Therefore, they continued their war against Britain. In order to
appease the Native Americans, the British issued in 1763 the Royal Proclamation Act,
according to which the colonists were prohibited from moving west across the Appalachian
Mountains and into the Ohio River Valley, and were also ordered to remain on the castern
side. The Act kept the lands between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi for the
Indians. Britain sent additional troops to the colonies to keep the borders safe, she was afraid

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 that the colonists' westward expansion would increase the Indians' anger.
Britain also made the American colonies pay taxes to recoup her losses of the French and
Indian War, which was very costly and enlarged her debt. Britain saw taxation as her right
and believed that the colonies should pay in return for protecting their interests in the New
World. But, the colonies considered this act unfair in a way that they should not be taxed
without being represented in Parliament, "no taxation without representation."
The British imperial policy in her colonies including taxation, trade restriction, and the lack
of representation in the British Parliament increased the colonies' resentment, and created an
urgent feeling that it would be better to fight and be independent from Britain. This led to
the meeting of the Continental Congress.

Towards Independence:

The First Continental Congress, also called Philadelphia Congress, gathered in September
1774 in Philadelphia. Delegates from twelve colonies were sent to represent them. Georgia
was an exception, because she needed the British protection against the attacks of the Indian
tribes. The delegates condemned taxation without representation, advocated the British
goods' boycott, and called for military preparations. However, a number of representatives
favoured the colonies" loyalty to the mother country and urged King George III (1760-1820)
to end his imperial policy in America
As the British Parliament did not address the colonies' complaints, the Second Continental
Congress convened in May 1775 in Philadelphia to appoint George Washington commander
in chief of the army. The Congress would adopt the Declaration of Independence in 1776
and the Articles of Confederation in 1781.

A Text for Reading and Analysis:

American Revolution or United States War of Independence (1775- 1783) War that won
political independence for 13 of Britain's North American colonies, forming the United
States of America. After the end of the costly FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR (1763), Britain
imposed new taxes on the colonies (see STAMP ACT, SUGAR ACT) and trade restrictions,
which fuelled growing resentment and added to the colonists' objection to their lack of
representation in the British Parliament. Determined to achieve independence, the colonies
formed the Continental Army, composed chiefly of MINUTEMEN, to challenge Britain's
large, organized militia. The war began when Britain sent a force to destroy rebel military

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 stores at Concord, Mass. After fighting broke out on April 19, 1775, rebel forces began a
siege of Boston that ended when American forces under HENRY KNOX forced out the
British troops under WILLIAM HOWE on March 17, 1776. Britain's offer of pardon in
exchange for surrender was refused by the Americans, who declared themselves independent
on July 4, 1776. British forces retaliated by driving the army of GEORGE WASHINGTON
from New York to New Jersey. On Christmas night, Washington crossed the Delaware River
and won the Battles of TRENTON AND PRINCETON. The British army split to cover more
territory, a fatal error. In engaging the Americans in Pennsylvania, notably in the Battle of
the BRANDYWINE, they left the troops in the north vulnerable. Despite a victory in the
Battle of TICONDEROGA, British troops under JOHN BURGOYNE were defeated by
HORATIO GATES and BENEDICT ARNOLD in the Battle of SARATOGA (October 17,
1777). Washington quartered his 11. 000 troops through a bleak winter at VALLEY FORGE,
where they received training from FREDERICK STEUBEN that gave them victory in
Monmouth, N.J., on June 28, 1778. British forces in the north thenceforth chiefly
concentrated near New York. France, which had been secretly furnishing aid to the
Americans since 1776, finally declared war on Britain in June 1778. French troops assisted
American troops in the south, culminating in the successful Siege of YORKTOWN, where
CHARLES CORNWALLIS's forces surrendered on October 19, 1781, bringing an end to
the war on land. War continued at sea, fought chiefly between Britain and the U.S.'s
European allies. The navies of Spain and the Netherlands contained most of Britain's navy
near Europe and away from the fighting in America. The last battle of the war was won by
the American navy under JOHN BARRY in March 1783 in the Straits of Florida. With the
Treaty of Paris (September 3, 1783), Britain recognized the independence of the US. cast of
the Mississippi River and coded Florida to Spain.

The text answers the following questions:

1. What were the main reasons for the American Revolution?

2. Who helped the Americans in their revolution?

3. What did 1776, 1781, and 1783 represent in the American History?

4. Why was the Continental Army formed?

5. What were the major battles of the American Revolutionary War?

6. To which country was Florida reverted after the end of the war with Britain?

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