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[[Image:Rev collage.png|right|thumb|250px|Collage of four famous American Revolutionary War paintings]]

[[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 [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] and their thirteen [[American]] colonies.  The leadership of the colonies decided to rebel, and united to attempt to gain their independence from Britain, largely due to high taxes levied by [[Parliament]], to pay for the American colonists' defence but 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.  

The '''American Revolutionary War''' (1775-1783) was a war between [[Kingdom of Great Britain|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.  

[[Image:american-revolution-map.gif|thumb|250px|Map depicting the 13 colonies]]

[[Image:american-revolution-map.gif|thumb|250px|Map depicting the 13 colonies]]

== Origins of the Revolution ==

== 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 government 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 Parliament (although at the time large parts of Britain were also unrepresented), and the famous phrase '''''"No Taxation Without Representation"''''' became the battle cry of the colonists.  Also, since Britain had to fight the war to protect its colonists, the [[Proclamation of 1763]] was enacted. This drew a line down the peaks of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], dividing the area between colonial settlements and territory for Native Americans. This angered many colonists, as their brothers and fathers had just fought and died to earn the land from France. 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.

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 government 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 Parliament, and the famous phrase '''''"No Taxation Without Representation"''''' became the battle cry of the colonists.  Also, since Britain had to fight the war to protect its colonists, the [[Proclamation of 1763]] was enacted. This drew a line down the peaks of the [[Appalachian Mountains]], dividing the area between colonial settlements and territory for Native Americans. This angered many colonists, as their brothers and fathers had just fought and died to earn the land from France. 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]].

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 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 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 Declaration of Independence was an important historical document, drawing from [[Christianity]] and the works of [[John Locke]], [[Thomas Hobbes]], and [[Adam Smith]]. It was penned primarily by [[Thomas Jefferson]] and is an indictment of the injustices the British monarchy had inflicted on the colonies, in an attempted justification for rebellion from their legal ruler. It asserted in the preamble the powerful belief that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness" - although all thirteen colonies remained slave states after independence.  These ideas have been iconic throughout America's history and referenced many times, including by [[Abraham Lincoln]] in his [[Gettysburg Address]].

The Declaration of Independence was an important historical document, drawing from [[Christianity]] and the works of [[John Locke]], [[Thomas Hobbes]], and [[Adam Smith]]. It was penned primarily by [[Thomas Jefferson]] and is an indictment of the injustices the British monarchy had inflicted on the colonies, and a justification for independence from their rule. It asserted in the preamble the powerful belief that "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." These ideas have been influential throughout America's history and referenced many times, including by [[Abraham Lincoln]] in his [[Gettysburg Address]].

The colonists felt that the "social contract" between themselves and England had been violated. This philosophical fiction was originated by Hobbes, and expanded on by Locke, which was the belief that government was a contract between the people and the governing body, in which the people gave up certain rights in return for protection of their natural rights. If the contract was not held up by the government, the people then had the authority to reject the government. The Declaration states “That to secure these [inalienable] rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government ….” The Declaration of Independence abolished the right of England to rule over the colonies, and provided a strong motivation for the Colonial Army in the war.  

The colonists felt that the "social contract" between themselves and England had been violated. This idea was originated by Hobbes, and expanded on by Locke, which was the belief that government was a contract between the people and the governing body, in which the people gave up certain rights in return for protection of their natural rights. If the contract was not held up by the government, the people then had the authority to reject the government. The Declaration states “That to secure these [inalienable] rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,—That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government ….” The Declaration of Independence abolished the right of England to rule over the colonies, and provided a strong motivation for the Colonial Army in the war.  

The culmination of the Revolution 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 and surrendered along with 7,000 troops on October 19, 1971.

The culmination of the Revolution 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 and surrendered along with 7,000 troops on October 19, 1971.