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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.  

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, 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 colonists already had created for themselves 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 colonists already had created for themselves 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]]."

The revolution occurred in the hearts and minds of Americans in 1774-1776 as they realized that continued subservience to the British Empire was incompatible with republicanism.  The Loyalists were willing to be ruled by a distant aristocracy, the patriots were not.

The revolution occurred in the hearts and minds of Americans in 1774-1776 as they realized that continued subservience to the British Empire was incompatible with republicanism.  The Loyalists were willing to be ruled by a distant aristocracy, the patriots were not.

The [[Seven Years War]] ended in British victory in 1763, and there were no foreign threats to the American colonies, nor any serious Indian threats.  London wanted stifling controls on the colonial economy and on westward expansion. They insisted that the colonists new taxes, but refused to allow representation in Parliament.  Britain was not asking the Americans to share the burden of warfare--they never asked the colonial legislatures for that.  Instead they insisted that Parliament had every right to tax the colonists whether they liked it or not.  Power was the issue. Ominously London sent thousands of regular army troops--was this to protect the colonists from nonexistent threats, or to protect the Royal officials from the anger of the people? Nothing seemed more dangerous to the precious political liberties of the Americans than the sort of standing army Britain was forcing upon them. The colonists responded by setting up their own shadow government, including local committees and (beginning in 1774) a [[Continental Congress]]. The Empire thought it knew how to suppress rebellions--in 1715 and 1745 it had ruthlessly crushed the Highlanders in Scotland; in the 17th century it had taken control of Ireland in campaigns that killed thousands of Catholic rebels and left the Protestants in total domination.  

The [[Seven Years War]] ended in British victory in 1763, and there were no foreign threats to the American colonies, nor any serious Indian threats.  London wanted stifling controls on the colonial economy and on westward expansion. They insisted that the colonists new taxes, but refused to allow representation in Parliament.  Britain was not asking the Americans to share the burden of warfare--they never asked the colonial legislatures for that.  Instead they insisted that Parliament had every right to tax the colonists whether they liked it or not.  Power was the issue. Ominously London sent thousands of regular army troops--was this to protect the colonists from nonexistent threats, or to protect the Royal officials from the anger of the people?<ref> "Regular" means full-time, long-term soldiers, either British or Hessian (German) or American (the latter known as Continentals.) Contrast with "militia", who were temporary citizen-soldiers, commanded by state officers. After a battle the militia went home, and the regulars stayed in camp.</ref>

Nothing seemed more dangerous to the precious political liberties of the Americans than the sort of standing army Britain was forcing upon them. The colonists responded by setting up their own shadow government, including local committees and (beginning in 1774) a [[Continental Congress]]. The Empire thought it knew how to suppress rebellions--in 1715 and 1745 it had ruthlessly crushed the Highlanders in Scotland; in the 17th century it had taken control of Ireland in campaigns that killed thousands of Catholic rebels and left the Protestants in total domination.  

Tensions came to a head in Massachusetts. In late 1773 at the [[Boston Tea Party]], patriots disguised as Indians dumped a shipment of tea into the harbor in protest.  London officials were outraged and plotted to so weaken Massachusetts that it could never defy the Empire again. In early 1774 Parliament passed the Coercive Acts that imposed near martial law, closed the courts, ended local government, shut the port of Boston, and suspended traditional civil liberties and economic freedom. Congress denounced the Acts, called for boycotts of British goods, and recommended that the militias ready their weapons. Georgia became the 13th colony represented in the Congress; however, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, East Florida, West Florida and several island colonies in the Caribbean remained loyal. The French Catholics in Canada much preferred the tolerance of London to the anti-Catholic Yankees; they stayed loyal, as did the wealthy sugar planters who controlled the numerous West Indian colonies. East Florida, West Florida and Newfoundland were so small, so new, and so dominated by the British army and navy that they stayed loyal. Nova Scotia (just north of Maine) was the curious case. It had been settled largely by New England [[Yankees]], who favored Congress. Yet it was an isolated island, easily controlled by the Royal Navy from its powerful base in Halifax. Protests were put down, and the people stayed neutral, pouring their emotions into religious revival rather than revolution.  

Tensions came to a head in Massachusetts. In late 1773 at the [[Boston Tea Party]], patriots disguised as Indians dumped a shipment of tea into the harbor in protest.  London officials were outraged and plotted to so weaken Massachusetts that it could never defy the Empire again. In early 1774 Parliament passed the Coercive Acts that imposed near martial law, closed the courts, ended local government, shut the port of Boston, and suspended traditional civil liberties and economic freedom. Congress denounced the Acts, called for boycotts of British goods, and recommended that the militias ready their weapons. Georgia became the 13th colony represented in the Congress; however, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, East Florida, West Florida and several island colonies in the Caribbean remained loyal. The French Catholics in Canada much preferred the tolerance of London to the anti-Catholic Yankees; they stayed loyal, as did the wealthy sugar planters who controlled the numerous West Indian colonies. East Florida, West Florida and Newfoundland were so small, so new, and so dominated by the British army and navy that they stayed loyal. Nova Scotia (just north of Maine) was the curious case. It had been settled largely by New England [[Yankees]], who favored Congress. Yet it was an isolated island, easily controlled by the Royal Navy from its powerful base in Halifax. Protests were put down, and the people stayed neutral, pouring their emotions into religious revival rather than revolution.  

[[Image:Concord1775.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Eyewitness drawing of British Redcoats marching to Concord in April, 1775;attacked by thousands of [[Minute Men]],  they retreated & barely managed to reach Boston.<ref> This is a hand colored engraving by Amos Doolittle based on a sketch by Ralph Earl. The Colonial Williamsburg Journal, "Fields of Fire—Four Views of the Fatal Day", Summer 2006.  [http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Summer06/paintings.cfm online] </ref>]]

[[Image:Concord1775.jpg|thumb|500px|right|Eyewitness drawing of British Redcoats marching to Concord in April, 1775;attacked by thousands of [[Minute Men]],  they retreated & barely managed to reach Boston.<ref> This is a hand colored engraving by Amos Doolittle based on a sketch by Ralph Earl. The Colonial Williamsburg Journal, "Fields of Fire—Four Views of the Fatal Day", Summer 2006.  [http://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Summer06/paintings.cfm online] </ref>]]

Political tactics had failed; now the British combat army based in Boston decided to overawe the rebels. On April 18, 1775, Gage sent 700 elite troops to Concord, 21 miles from Boston, to seize illegal munitions stored there.  Major John Pitcairn a month before wrote that "one active campaign, a smart action, and burning two or three of their towns, will set everything to rights."  The minute men of Lexington blocked Pitcairn; someone unknown fired the first shot; the British pushed on to Concord.  They found the munitions gone and began their return trek only to be stunned by the discovery the Americans were fighting back.  Three thousand brave militia lined the route, firing muskets from behind stone fences.  ("The Americans," noted General Israel Putnam, "are not at all afraid of their heads, though very much afraid of their legs; if you cover these they will fight forever.")  The Yankee assault was well-planned and well-carried out.  Only the timely arrival of a rescue party saved the redcoats, who suffered 270 casualties (versus 93 American casualties).

Political tactics had failed; now the British combat army based in Boston decided to overawe the rebels. On April 18, 1775, Gage sent 700 elite troops to Concord, 21 miles from Boston, to seize illegal munitions stored there.  Major John Pitcairn a month before wrote that "one active campaign, a smart action, and burning two or three of their towns, will set everything to rights."  The minute men of Lexington blocked Pitcairn; someone unknown fired the first shot; the British pushed on to Concord.  They found the munitions gone and began their return trek only to be stunned by the discovery the Americans were fighting back.  Three thousand brave militia lined the route, firing muskets from behind stone fences.  ("The Americans," noted General Israel Putnam, "are not at all afraid of their heads, though very much afraid of their legs; if you cover these they will fight forever.")  The Yankee assault was well-planned and well-carried out.  Only the timely arrival of a rescue party saved the redcoats, who suffered 270 casualties (versus 93 American casualties).<ref>"Casualty" includes dead, wounded, captured, deserted and missing. It represents the number of men permanently or temporarily lost to the command. The missing were usually captured or deserters, and most did not return to the war. Most of the wounded eventually recovered, but were usually out of action for months.  The usual ratio in battles was 40 wounded for every 10 killed. </ref>

Fast riders sped word of the British aggression and American resistance up and down the coast.  The news reached General  

Fast riders sped word of the British aggression and American resistance up and down the coast.  The news reached General