American Revolution

The political movement leading to American independence and the founding of the U.S.

Quick Facts: Who was American Revolution?

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American Revolution
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The political movement leading to American independence and the founding of the U.S.
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Origins & Early Life

The American Revolution (1765–1789) was a political movement in the Thirteen Colonies of Great Britain. It began as a colonial rebellion and turned into a revolution eventually resulting into the creation of the United States, which was the outcome of the associated American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). The Second Continental Congress, as the provisional government, established the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander-in-chief in 1775. The following year, the Congress passed the Lee Resolution on July 2nd and unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. Throughout most of the war, the outcome appeared uncertain, but a 1781 victory by Washington and the Continental Army in the Siege of Yorktown led King George III and the Fox–North coalition in government to negotiate the cessation of British colonial rule and the acknowledgment of American sovereignty, which was formalized in the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783.

Career & Major Achievements

The second U.S. Constitution took effect in 1789 and the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791. Discontent with British colonial rule began shortly right after the end of the French and Indian War, which ended in 1763. Although the Thirteen Colonies had fought and supported the war directly, the British Parliament imposed new taxes onto the British-American colonists, ostensibly to compensate for wartime costs, and transferred control of the colonies' western lands to British officials in Montreal. Representatives from several of the Thirteen Colonies convened in New York City for the Stamp Act Congress in 1765. Its declaration argued that taxation without representation and other British policies had violated their rights as Englishmen.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In 1767, though the Stamp Act was repealed, tensions increased again following Parliament's passing of the Townshend Acts. In an effort to quell the mounting rebellion, King George III deployed British troops to the colony of Massachusetts, where there was a conflict in the 1770 Boston Massacre. In December 1773, the local faction of the Sons of Liberty, made up of British-American colonists disguised as American Indians, orchestrated the Boston Tea Party, during which they dumped chests of taxed tea owned by the British East India Company into the Boston Harbor. Parliament responded by enacting a series of punitive laws, called the Intolerable Acts. These were intended to end self-government in Massachusetts but instead increased American support for revolution.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

  1. 1763: 1763 Milestone — Discontent with British colonial rule began shortly right after the end of the French and Indian War, which ended in 1763.
  2. 1765: 1765 Milestone — The American Revolution (1765–1789) was a political movement in the Thirteen Colonies of Great Britain.
  3. 1767: 1767 Milestone — In 1767, though the Stamp Act was repealed, tensions increased again following Parliament's passing of the Townshend Acts.
  4. 1770: 1770 Milestone — In an effort to quell the mounting rebellion, King George III deployed British troops to the colony of Massachusetts, where there was a conflict in the 1770 Boston Massacre.
  5. 1773: 1773 Milestone — In December 1773, the local faction of the Sons of Liberty, made up of British-American colonists disguised as American Indians, orchestrated the Boston Tea Party, during which they dumped chests of taxed tea owned by the British East India Company into the Boston Harbor.
  6. 1775: 1775 Milestone — It began as a colonial rebellion and turned into a revolution eventually resulting into the creation of the United States, which was the outcome of the associated American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).
  7. 1781: 1781 Milestone — Throughout most of the war, the outcome appeared uncertain, but a 1781 victory by Washington and the Continental Army in the Siege of Yorktown led King George III and the Fox–North coalition in government to negotiate the cessation of British colonial rule and the acknowledgment of American sovereignty, which was formalized in the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783.
  8. 1789: 1789 Milestone — Constitution took effect in 1789 and the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791.

Notable Quotes by American Revolution

“We always had governed ourselves, and we always meant to.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: American Revolution

True or False: “The Treaty of Paris formally recognized American sovereignty by ceding territory east of the Mississippi River.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): The treaty granted the new nation nearly all territory east of the Mississippi River and south of the Great Lakes.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

  • Eli Whitney — Historical peer (Born in 1765) (1765): American inventor best known for the cotton gin, shaping the Antebellum South's economy.
  • Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor — Historical peer (Died in 1765) (1765): Last non-Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor; founder of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine.
  • Arabanoo — Historical peer (Died in 1789) (1789): Eora man forcibly taken by British colonists, becoming a key figure in early interactions.
  • Augustin-Louis Cauchy — Historical peer (Born in 1789) (1789): Pioneered real and complex analysis, fundamentally shaping modern mathematics.
  • André-Marie Ampère — Historical peer (Born in 1775) (1775): Founder of classical electromagnetism; inventor of the solenoid and electrical telegraph.
  • Bahadur Shah Zafar — Historical peer (Born in 1775) (1775): The last Mughal Emperor of India and renowned Urdu poet.
  • Adam František Kollár — Historical peer (Died in 1783) (1783): Pioneering Slovak jurist, historian, and coiner of the term ethnology.
  • Agustín de Iturbide — Historical peer (Born in 1783) (1783): Mexican military officer and politician who became the first Emperor of Mexico.
  • Ablai Khan — Historical peer (Died in 1781) (1781): Last independent Kazakh Khan, leading struggles against Dzungars and Qing forces.
  • Achim von Arnim — Historical peer (Born in 1781) (1781): German Romantic poet and novelist, key figure in German literature.

Frequently Asked Questions about American Revolution

Who was American Revolution and what are their primary contributions?

The political movement leading to American independence and the founding of the U.S. Origins & Early Life: The American Revolution (1765–1789) was a political movement in the Thirteen Colonies of Great Britain. It began as a colonial rebellion and turned into a revolution eventually resulting into the creation of the United States, which was the outcome of the associated American Revolutionary War (1775–1783). The Second Continental Congress, as the provisional government, established the Continental Army and appointed George Washington as its commander-in-chief in 1775. The following year, the Congress passed the Lee Resolution on July 2nd and unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. Throughout most of the war, the outcome appeared uncertain, but a 1781 victory by Washington and the Continental Army in the Siege of Yorktown led King George III and the Fox–North coalition in government to negotiate the cessation of British colonial rule and the acknowledgment of American sovereignty, which was formalized in the Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783.

Where can I read more verified chronological archives on American Revolution?

Explore verified primary sources, interactive timelines, and contemporary figures in the 2Day Chrono-Wiki encyclopedia or review the original entry on Wikipedia.

Source: Wikipedia