American Revolution

American Revolution, 1775–83, struggle by which the Thirteen Colonies on the Atlantic seaboard of North America won independence from Great Britain and became the United States. It is also called the American War of Independence.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Causes and Early Troubles
• The First Continental Congress
• War's Outbreak
• Indecision and Declaration
• Saratoga and Valley Forge
• Foreign Assistance
• Vincennes to Yorktown
• Aftermath
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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