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In January of 1776, [[Thomas Paine]]'s published a pamphlet called ''[[Common Sense]]'', which argued against divine rule and economic reasons to stay with Britain, in plain language.  Paine's book and ideas worked the colonists into a frenzy, and gave them the courage to realize that separation from Britain was necessary and attainable.  After only three months, 120,000 copies had been sold, which was equivalent to about 5% of the total population!  Today a bestselling book has sales of 30,000 out of a population of 300 million (only 0.01%).  '''''Thomas Paine's pamphlet ''Common Sense'' sold 500 times as much as a bestseller today, when measured as a percentage of the population'''''.  And many more read borrowed copies, or heard speeches that quoted from the book.

In January of 1776, [[Thomas Paine]]'s published a pamphlet called ''[[Common Sense]]'', which argued against divine rule and economic reasons to stay with Britain, in plain language.  Paine's book and ideas worked the colonists into a frenzy, and gave them the courage to realize that separation from Britain was necessary and attainable.  After only three months, 120,000 copies had been sold, which was equivalent to about 5% of the total population!  Today a bestselling book has sales of 30,000 out of a population of 300 million (only 0.01%).  '''''Thomas Paine's pamphlet ''Common Sense'' sold 500 times as much as a bestseller today, when measured as a percentage of the population'''''.  And many more read borrowed copies, or heard speeches that quoted from the book.

Here are some of Paine's words against divine rule: "The heathens paid divine honors to their deceased kings, and the Christian world had improved on the plan by doing the same to their living ones.  How impious is the title of sacred majesty applied to a worm, who in the midst of his splendor is crumbling into dust!"

Here are some of Paine's words against divine rule: "The heathens paid divine honors to their deceased kings, and the Christian world had improved on the plan by doing the same to their living ones.  How impious is the title of sacred majesty applied to a worm, who in the midst of his splendor is crumbling into dust!"

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was formally announced.  It declares that all men are created equal, having natural inalienable rights.  The colonies' many grievances against the crown were listed.  It argued that government is a social compact and rebellion is justified when the government breaks its end of the bargain.  This logic was borrowed from the philosophy of John Locke.  But perhaps the most important part of the Declaration was its frequent invocation of God.  Our nation was founded on God's providence and truth.     

On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was formally announced.  It declares that all men are created equal, having natural inalienable rights.  The colonies' many grievances against the crown were listed.  It argued that government is a social compact and rebellion is justified when the government breaks its end of the bargain.  This logic was borrowed from the philosophy of John Locke.  But perhaps the most important part of the Declaration was its frequent invocation of God.  Our nation was founded on God's providence and truth.     

Still, the colonies had few troops, especially since one-third of the population was loyal to Britain and another significant percentage were pacifist [[Quakers]].  Washington's army was composed of just 18,000 men, less than a third the size of attendance at Giants Stadium for a football game.  The British won early battles at [[Bunker Hill]] in Boston, in Canada, and in New York.  The colonies did not start winning until Christmas Eve in Trenton in 1776, then later at Princeton.   

The colonies had few troops, especially since one-third of the population was loyal to Britain and another significant percentage were pacifist [[Quakers]].  Washington's army was composed of just 18,000 men, less than a third the size of attendance at Giants Stadium for a football game.  The British won early battles at [[Bunker Hill]] in Boston, in Canada, and in New York.  The colonies did not start winning until Christmas Eve in Trenton in 1776, then later at Princeton.   

During the winter of 1777 Washington quartered his troops in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  This winter was filled with suffering.  The troops lacked supplies and many died of starvation and cold.  But the training the troops received during this time was invaluable.  Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben drilled the troops throughout the winter, and his expertise may well have aided in turning the tide against the British.

During the winter of 1777 Washington quartered his troops in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.  This winter was filled with suffering.  Washington read to the soldiers inspiring words written by Thomas Paine a year earlier in a pamphlet series called ''The Crisis'':

 

The troops lacked supplies and many died of starvation and cold.  But the training the troops received during this time was invaluable.  Prussian Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben drilled the troops throughout the winter, and his expertise may well have aided in turning the tide against the British.

In 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation (ratified in 1781) to govern the colonies.  This established a weak national government, without a president or courts, and unanimous approval was required to amend the Articles of Confederation.

In 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation (ratified in 1781) to govern the colonies.  This established a weak national government, without a president or courts, and unanimous approval was required to amend the Articles of Confederation.

Despite the alliance with the French and the northern victories by the Patriots (Americans), the British were still beating the Patriots badly in the South.  The British captured Charleston in 1780, taking 5,500 soldiers and huge amounts of weapons.  Finally, the Patriots installed General [[Nathanael Greene]], one of the revolution's best generals.  He started inflicting heavy casualties on the British, and they retreated from the Carolinas to Yorktown, Virginia.  A remarkable French General, Marquis de Lafayette, gave much of his personal fortune to support the colonies in this Revolution, and he led French soldiers in siding with the Americans.

Despite the alliance with the French and the northern victories by the Patriots (Americans), the British were still beating the Patriots badly in the South.  The British captured Charleston in 1780, taking 5,500 soldiers and huge amounts of weapons.  Finally, the Patriots installed General [[Nathanael Greene]], one of the revolution's best generals.  He started inflicting heavy casualties on the British, and they retreated from the Carolinas to Yorktown, Virginia.  A remarkable French General, Marquis de Lafayette, gave much of his personal fortune to support the colonies in this Revolution, and he led French soldiers in siding with the Americans.

In May 1781, two fleets of French soldiers helped trap the British at Yorktown, Virginia.  The British were forced to surrender their entire army of 8,000.  But the British still held New York, and did not finally sign a peace treaty until February 1783, the Treaty of Paris.  In it the British gave up their claim to land east of the Mississippi, from Canada to Florida.  The Americans promised to treat fairly the Loyalists (colonists loyal to the King) and English creditors (people owed money by colonists).  Some people on both sides refused to abide by the treaty, and loyalty to England continues to run deep to this day in some American families.

In May 1781, two fleets of French soldiers helped trap the British at Yorktown, Virginia.  Known as the Battle of Yorktown, General George Washington won this battle and the war through brilliant military strategy as he trapped the entire British army of 8,000 and forced them to surrender.  This decided the outcome of the war in favor of the Americans.  The British still held New York, and did not finally sign a peace treaty until February 1783, the Treaty of Paris.  In it the British gave up their claim to land east of the Mississippi, from Canada to Florida.  The Americans promised to treat fairly the Loyalists (colonists loyal to the King) and English creditors (people owed money by colonists).  Some people on both sides refused to abide by the treaty, and loyalty to England continues to run deep to this day in some American families.

== References ==

== References ==