197. DSC 251- The American Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence

The American Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence

The American colonies were founded in the 1600s and governed themselves. 

After war with France in 1763, the UK gained a lot of land but lost a lot of money. The Parliament of UK under King George III imposed taxes on the colonies as compensation for their help on tea, sugar and even printed documents basically on everything.

They had no representation in the British Parliament and demanded the same rights as other subjects. Colonial resistance led to violence in 1770 when British soldiers opened fire killing five men during the Boston massacre. Three years later, Bostonians boarded British ships and dumped their tea cargos into Boston harbour as an act of protest against British taxes, known as the Boston tea party. The British Parliament then passed a series of punitive measures designed to reassert authority in Massachusetts. In response, a group of colonial delegates including Washington, John and Samuel Adams met in Philadelphia to denounce taxation without representation as well as maintainence of the British Army and the colonies without their consent.

In April 1775, local militiamen clashed with British soldiers in Massachusetts marking the start of the revolutionary war. The second continental congress included Benjamin Franklin and Jefferson convened in Philadelphia and appointed Washington to create a continental army and oversee and oversee the capture of Boston.

This went on till 1775 when the UK sent soldiers from Boston to silence the rebels. This was taxation without representation. Rebellion broke out in Lexington which quickly spread the idea of freedom.

So, The American Revolutionary War took place in between 1775-1783 was a pivotal moment in history. 13 British colonies in North America rose against British rule to seek Independence.

The desire for self-governance became the key battles in Lexington, Concord, Saratoga and York town.

George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin made important roles.

On July 4th1976, the British took control of New York. But George Washington made a surprise attack and pushed them back. The British tried to split the colonies into two but were defeated at Saratoga after which France and Spain joined the war to help the Americans. In Yorktown, the British surrendered after Washington broke their regrouping.

The war ended in 1781 but with the Treaty of Paris but officially ended in 1783. United States became independent.

56 men who were merchants, landowners, lawyers risked everything and signed a document over a course of 17 days that changed the world forever. These 13 states became radical. On 4th July 1776, the Continental Congress adopted a bold proclamation drafted primarily by Roger Sherman, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Payne and Robert Livingston declaring complete separation from Britain's tyrannical rule. Jefferson was the leader of the committee and main author of the Declaration of Independence. He organized the document in parts with a Preamble or introduction. The next section is Declaration of Natural Rights which explains that every citizen is born with certain rights that should never go away. This was also the first public law of USA and was officially adopted by the second continental congress after a eight year long war. George Washington became the first President of the USA.

The first official flag of the USA had the British Union Jack. USA was the first country to obtain freedom from the British colonial empire. However, around 30 years later, Britain again entered into a new conflict with the US known as the War of 1812.