British troops marched from Boston to seize colonial military supplies. Militia forces confronted them at Lexington and later at Concord, and the British were harassed on the retreat to Boston. The clashes turned a political crisis into open war.
The Second Continental Congress organized the colonies’ forces into the Continental Army to coordinate the war effort. It then selected George Washington as commander in chief to help unify support across the colonies. This created a national military structure for a conflict that was rapidly expanding.
American forces fought British troops near Boston in the war’s first major battle. The British took the ground, but at heavy cost, which challenged assumptions that the rebellion would be quickly crushed. The battle strengthened Patriot resolve and shaped early strategy around Boston.
Even after fighting began, the Continental Congress sent a final appeal to King George III asking to restore peace and protect colonial rights. The petition showed that many leaders still hoped to avoid full separation. Its failure helped push opinion toward independence.
After building and positioning artillery, the Continental Army pressured British forces in Boston. The British evacuated the city by sea, ending a major early campaign. This success boosted Patriot confidence but shifted the war to other colonies.
The Continental Congress approved a formal statement declaring that the colonies were independent states. The Declaration reframed the conflict from resisting British policy to establishing a new nation. It also helped the Americans seek foreign support as an independent power.
Soon after independence was declared, British forces defeated Washington’s army in New York. Washington managed a nighttime evacuation across the East River, preserving the Continental Army. Britain held New York City for the rest of the war, giving it a strong base for operations.
After a difficult 1776 campaign, Washington attacked enemy forces in New Jersey, beginning with the surprise victory at Trenton. Fighting continued over several days and culminated at Princeton, showing the Continental Army could win in open battle. The victories helped keep the revolutionary cause alive through the winter.
A British army under John Burgoyne was surrounded and forced to surrender in upstate New York. The surrender was a major turning point because it showed the Americans could defeat a large British force. It also helped convince France to openly ally with the United States.
France recognized the United States and signed treaties that included a military alliance against Great Britain. French money, troops, and naval power expanded the conflict and made it harder for Britain to concentrate forces in North America. International support became a key advantage for the American war effort.
After years of debate, the states completed ratification of the Articles of Confederation, creating the first formal national framework of government. The system kept most power with the states, reflecting fear of strong central authority. This government directed the war’s final phase but later proved too weak for peacetime needs.
A combined American and French force trapped British troops at Yorktown, Virginia, with French naval support limiting escape. Cornwallis surrendered, ending major fighting in North America. The defeat made it politically and financially difficult for Britain to continue the war.
American and British negotiators agreed to preliminary peace terms in Paris while Britain also negotiated with France and other powers. These articles set the core terms that would later appear in the final treaty. The agreement signaled that diplomacy had largely replaced battlefield decision-making.
The United States and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Paris, which ended the American Revolution and recognized U.S. independence. The treaty also set boundaries and required steps such as withdrawal of British forces. With peace in place, the new nation faced the challenge of governing under the Articles and rebuilding after war.
American Revolutionary War (1775–1783)