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The '''American Revolutionary War''' (1775-1783) was a war between [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] and their thirteen [[North America|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.  

The '''American Revolutionary War''' (1775-1783) was a [[war]] between [[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]] and their thirteen [[North America|American]] [[Colony|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.  

== Origins of the Revolution ==

== Origins of the Revolution ==

[[Image:american-revolution-map.gif|thumb|200px|The 13 British colonies in North America by 1770]]

[[Image:american-revolution-map.gif|thumb|200px|The 13 British colonies in North America by 1770]]

The American Revolution came about fundamentally because by 1763 the English-speaking communities on the far side of the Atlantic had matured to the extent that their interests and goals were distinct from those of the ruling classes in the mother country. [[British]] statesmen failed to understand or adjust to the situation. Ironically enough, British victory in the [[Seven Years' War]] set the stage for the revolt, for it freed the colonists from the need for British protection against a French threat on their frontiers and gave free play to the forces working for separation.  

The American Revolution came about fundamentally because by 1763 the [[English]]-speaking communities on the far side of the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]] had matured to the extent that their interests and goals were distinct from those of the ruling classes in the mother country. [[British]] statesmen failed to understand or adjust to the situation. Ironically enough, British victory in the [[Seven Years' War]] set the stage for the revolt, for it freed the colonists from the need for British protection against a [[French]] threat on their frontiers and gave free play to the forces working for separation.  

        

        

In 1763 the British government, reasonably from its own point of view, moved to tighten the system of imperial control and to force the colonists to contribute to imperial defense. As part of an effort to make the costs of empire be borne by all British subjects, his majesty’s government sought to create an "American Establishment," a force of 10,000 British regular soldiers in North America. The cost of this military force would be paid for by taxes the British Parliament levied on Americans. This imperial defense plan touched off the long controversy about Parliament’s right to tax that started with the Stamp and Sugar Acts and led to a final provocative deed in December 1773: protesting "taxation without representation", a patriot mob dressed as Indians boarded several ships of the East India Company moored in Boston harbor and destroyed their cargo of tea in an event since called the "Boston Tea Party".

In 1763 the British government, reasonably from its own point of view, moved to tighten the system of imperial control and to force the colonists to contribute to imperial defense. As part of an effort to make the costs of empire be borne by all British subjects, his majesty’s government sought to create an "American Establishment," a force of 10,000 British regular soldiers in North America. The cost of this military force would be paid for by taxes the British Parliament levied on Americans. This imperial defense plan touched off the long controversy about Parliament’s right to tax that started with the Stamp and Sugar Acts and led to a final provocative deed in December 1773: protesting "taxation without representation", a patriot mob dressed as Indians boarded several ships of the East India Company moored in Boston harbor and destroyed their cargo of tea in an event since called the "Boston Tea Party".