Independence
History: KS3, topic 6.2.5
Thirteen Colonies
Britain came to control thirteen colonies along the east coast. However, disagreements between the British government and the American colonists led to the War of Independence.
East coast
- After the successful settlements of Virginia and Plymouth, other English people set their sights on America and migrated there to begin a new life.
- They settled along the eastern coast of North America.
- By 1732, Britain controlled thirteen colonies in North America.
British values
- Being of British heritage, many of these American colonists believed Britain to be ‘the mother country’.
- They also valued British democracy and liberties, which included:
- The right to a free trial.
- Paying taxes should mean representation in parliament.
The War of Independence
- However, by the mid-1700s the British were struggling financially and decided to begin taxing the American colonies, even though they were not represented in the British parliament.
- This set in motion a series of events which resulted in the War of Independence breaking out in 1775 between Britain and the American colonists.
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 Battle of Yorktown
- The war dragged on for seven more years, but eventually the British were forced to surrender to the Americans in the Siege of Yorktown in 1781.
- British control of North America had ended, and Britain turned its attention to the rest of its empire.
Test yourself on Independence
On which date did the colonists sign the Declaration of Independence?
What happened on the 4th July 1776?