The American War of Independence
History: KS3, topic 12.1.5
Course of the War of Independence
By the mid-1770s, relations between Britain and the thirteen colonies had deteriorated. The American colonists wanted more independence, which Britain did not want to give.
'Taxation without representation'
- ‘Taxation without representation’ became the motto of American colonists after the tea duty.
- The American people did not think it was fair that the British could introduce taxes without the Americans having a say in Parliament.
The War of Independence
- In 1775, war broke out between Britain and the thirteen colonies.
- France supported the Americans, wanting revenge against the British.
- Originally, the Americans wanted more say over their affairs, but not to be completely independent.
- This changed in 1776.
The Declaration of Independence
- On 4th July 1776 the colonists signed the Declaration of Independence, in which they stated that they were fighting to be free from British rule.
- America has been celebrating Independence Day on 4th July ever since.
- The Declaration of Independence was heavily influenced by Thomas Paine's book Commonsense. Pain argued that the Americans did not owe anything to Britain.
The Battle of Yorktown
- The War of Independence dragged on for seven years, but eventually the British were forced to surrender to the colonists in the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.
- The peace treaty was signed in 1783.
Test yourself on The American War of Independence
When did the War of Independence begin?
When did the Americans want full independence?