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A good enough start, I think.
The '''American Revolutionary War''' began in 1775, when [[Paul Revere]]'s midnight ride alerted the [[Massachusetts]] militia that [[British]] troops were moving to seize an arms depot in [[Concord, Massachusetts]]. The militia held a bridge at nearby [[Lexington]], and the "Shot heard 'round the world" was fired. After this short skirmish, and the subsequent [[Battle of Lexington]], delegates from the [[Thirteen Colonies]] met in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] and drafted a [[Declaration of Independence]] on July 4 of the following year. The war concluded with the [[Treaty of Paris]] in 1783, granting independence to the colonies.
[[Image:Rev collage.png|right|thumb|250px|Collage of four famous American Revolutionary War paintings]]
The '''American Revolutionary War''' (1775-1783) was a war between [[Great Britain]] and their thirteen [[American]] colonies. The leadership of the colonies decided to unite and attempt to gain their independence from Britain, largely due to high taxes levied by [[Parliament]] without adequate representation. The decision to reject British rule was not universal in the colonies. Those that favored independence were called [[Patriot]]s and those that remained loyal to the throne were called [[Loyalist]]s. There was also a significant contingent that tried, for the most part, to remain neutral.
[[Category:American Revolutionary War| ]]
[[Image:american-revolution-map.gif|thumb|250px|Map depicting the 13 colonies]]
== Origins of the Revolution ==
Following a successful campaign by the British in the [[French and Indian War]], in which they conquered [[French]] lands east of the [[Mississippi River]], the British governement decided to enact new taxes on its [[North America]]n colonies to repay expenses for their defense. The colonies were upset about this because they were not granted seats in Parlaiment, and the famous phrase '''''"No Taxation Without Representation"''''' became the battle cry of the colonists. The British also began actively enforcing the [[Navigation Acts]], which they had been previously lax on, which subjected American imports to higher tarrifs. The [[Stamp Act of 1765]], which required certain trade goods to be affixed with a tax stamp, added further fuel to the fire and led to the creation of the [[Sons of Liberty]], a patriot group which actively resisted British authority. The British continued with their taxation policies with the [[Townshend Acts]], which lead to the infamous [[Boston Tea Party]] and the British response of closing Boston Harbor.
Relations were strained further, when in March of 1770, there was an altercation between British soldiers and a colonial mob that resulted in the death of five colonists. This became known as the [[Boston Massacre]].
== The War ==
The war began in April 1775, when [[Paul Revere]]'s midnight ride alerted the [[Massachusetts]] militia that [[British]] troops under the command of General [[Thomas Gage]] were moving to seize an arms depot in [[Concord, Massachusetts]]. The militia held a bridge at nearby [[Battle of Lexington|Lexington]], and the "Shot heard 'round the world" was fired, although it is unknown which side fired first. After this short skirmish, and the subsequent [[Battle of Lexington]], delegates from the [[Thirteen Colonies]] met in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]] and convened the [[Second Continental Congress]] to draft a [[Declaration of Independence]]. The Declaration was officially signed on July 4, 1776, officially severing American ties with England.
The culmination of the war was the [[Battle of Yorktown]], which pitted the American army, under the command of General [[George Washington]], along with the French, under the command of General [[Comte de Rochambeau]], against the British, under the command of General [[Charles Cornwallis]]. Due to a French Naval blockade, Cornwallis was unable to receive the reinforcements and supplies he needed, surrendered along with 7,000 troops on October 19, 1971.
The war concluded with the signing of the [[Treaty of Paris]] in 1783, granting independence to the colonies.
[[image:Betsy_Ross_flag.jpg|300px|right]]
== Chronology of the American Revolution ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1775'''===
|-
| April 19 || Fighting breaks out at [[Lexington]] and [[Concord]], [[Massachusetts]], the war begins
|-
| May 10 || Americans capture [[Fort Ticonderoga]], [[New York]], [[Second Continental Congress]] opens in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]].
|-
| June 15 || [[George Washington]] named Commander-in-Chief
|-
| June 17 || [[Battle of Bunker Hill]], [[Boston]], Massachusetts
|-
| December 31|| Battle of [[Quebec]], [[Canada]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1776'''===
|-
| January || [[Thomas Paine]] publishes ''[[Common Sense]]''
|-
| March 17 || [[British]] leave Boston
|-
| July 4 || [[Declaration of Independence]] signed
|-
| August 27 || [[Battle of Long Island]], New York
|-
| September 15 || British occupy [[New York City]]
|-
| November 16 || British capture [[Fort Washington]], New York
|-
| November 20 || British capture [[Fort Lee]], [[New Jersey]]
|-
| December 26 || [[Battle of Trenton]], New Jersey
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1777'''===
|-
| January 3 || [[Battle of Princeton]], New Jersey
|-
| July 6 || British recapture Fort Ticonderoga, New York
|-
| September 11 || [[Battle of Brandywine]], Pennsylvania
|-
| September 19 || First Battle of [[Freeman's Farm]] ([[Saratoga]]), New York
|-
| September 26 || British capture Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|-
| October 4 || [[Battle of Germantown]], Pennsylvania
|-
| October 7 || Second Battle of [[Freeman's Farm]], New York
|-
| October 17 || British General [[John Burgoyne]] surrenders at [[Saratoga]], New York
|-
| December 19 || [[George Washington|Washington]] moves his army to [[Valley Forge]], Pennsylvania
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1778'''===
|-
| February 6 || Americans sign treaty with [[France]]
|-
| June 28 || [[Battle of Monmouth]], New Jersey
|-
| December 29 || British occupy [[Savannah]], [[Georgia]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1779'''===
|-
| June 21 || [[Spain]] declares war on Britain
|-
| September 23 || The British frigate [[Serapis]] Is captured by [[John Paul Jones]]
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1780'''===
|-
| May 12 || Americans surrender at [[Charleston]], [[South Carolina]] under [[Benjamin Lincoln]]
|-
| August 16 || [[Battle of Camden]], South Carolina
|-
| October 7 || [[Battle of Kings Mountain]], [[North Carolina|North]] and South Carolina
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1781'''===
|-
| March 15 || [[Battle of Guilford Court House]], North Carolina
|-
| September 28 || [[Battle of Yorktown]] begins
|-
| October 19 || [[Battle of Yorktown]] ends, British General [[Charles Cornwallis]] surrenders
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1782'''===
|-
| July 11 || British leave Savannah, Georgia
|-
| November 30 || Draft of peace treaty signed in Paris, France
|-
| December 14 || British leave Charleston, South Carolina
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
|+
|-
==='''1783'''===
|-
| April 15 || Peace treaty draft is ratified by [[United States of America|United States]]
|-
| September 3 || [[Treaty of Paris]] signed officially ending war
|}
[[Category:American Revolutionary War]]