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The '''American Revolution''' (1775-1783) was the process by which the thirteen American colonies became an independent nation, the United States of America.  It involved new ideas, based on [[republicanism]], and required victory in a long war with [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]]. After the fighting raged for a year the Americans declared independence on July 4, 1776, as a separate nation, and formed an alliance with France that equalized the military and naval strengths of the two sides.  

The '''American Revolution''' (1775–1783) was the process by which the thirteen American colonies became an independent nation, the United States of America.  It involved new ideas, based on [[republicanism]], and required victory in a long war with [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Britain]]. After the fighting raged for a year the Americans declared independence on July 4, 1776, as a separate nation, and formed an alliance with France that equalized the military and naval strengths of the two sides.  

The basic cause was the refusal of the British government to allow Americans a voice in setting taxes. Those that favored independence were called [[Patriot]]s and those that remained loyal to King [[George III]] were called [[Loyalists]]. Many people tried to remain neutral.<ref>The U.S. side is variously called American, patriot, rebel, Yankee, Continental, allied or Whig. The King's side is called British, redcoat, Tory, [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian]], Loyalist or King's Men. The Loyalists were Americans who supported the King.</ref>

The basic cause was the refusal of the British government to allow Americans a voice in setting taxes. Those that favored independence were called [[Patriot]]s and those that remained loyal to King [[George III]] were called [[Loyalists]]. Many people tried to remain neutral.<ref>The U.S. side is variously called American, patriot, rebel, Yankee, Continental, allied or Whig. The King's side is called British, redcoat, Tory, [[Hessian (soldier)|Hessian]], Loyalist or King's Men. The Loyalists were Americans who supported the King.</ref>

   

   

Most "revolutions" in history, like the later French Revolution of the 1790s, involve the overthrow of an old social structure in the search for freedom.  Not this one. This one was designed to protect freedoms that colonists recognized as a creation of [[Natural Law|God's Law]], in their largely self-governing colonies. As Gordon Wood (1966) explains, "The Revolution had taken place not in a succession of eruptions that had crumbled the existing social structure, but in a succession of new thoughts and new ideas that had vindicated the social structure."<ref>Wood, "Rhetoric" (1966) p 6</ref>  Those "new thoughts and new ideas" comprised "[[republicanism]]."

Most "revolutions" in history, like the later French Revolution of the 1790s, involve the overthrow of an old social structure in the search for freedom.  Not this one. This one was designed to protect freedoms that colonists recognized as a creation of [[Natural Law|God's Law]], in their largely self-governing colonies. As Gordon Wood (1966) explains, "The Revolution had taken place not in a succession of eruptions that had crumbled the existing social structure, but in a succession of new thoughts and new ideas that had vindicated the social structure."<ref>Wood, "Rhetoric" (1966) p 6</ref>  Those "new thoughts and new ideas" comprised "[[republicanism]]."

[[Image:american-revolution-map.gif|thumb|200px|The 13 colonies in 1775]]

[[Image:american-revolution-map.gif|thumb|200px|The 13 colonies in 1775]]