The American Revolution involved several battles and treaties to end the war and formation of alliances during wars. In 1763, the colonists started to impose their rules on the people of America. Americans were required to pay taxes, which were aimed at paying war costs incurred by Britain. Colonists also wanted to impose their mother country laws on Americans since they thought the parliament represented whole empire. The revolution started in 1763 when Britons declared that locals could not inhabit the land on the west of the Appalachian. In 1764, there was outrage when new laws on revenue, sugar and currency were imposed. These laws limited profits and infringed of the liberties of colonists.
Colonists organized demonstrations in cities like Boston and New York over the Stamp Act. Law administrators were coerced to resign. The resistance, along with the pressure from merchants afraid of losing the American market, forced the British government to reverse the stamp act. However, the declaratory act was passed, which gave the British parliament power to pass laws in America. There were many cases of internal social turmoil in colonies as the colonists sought to resist the colonial governments and settlers. Tenants refused to pay taxes in Vermont and New England.
There were boycotts on imported products in Boston and other southern colonies. The locals in the south started producing their own goods. The British troops were involved in a fight with Boston residents on March 5 1770. Five residents were killed in that incident. There were several incidents of tension and resistance when colonists felt that the British government was imposing intolerable laws on them and was threatening their religious and political freedom.
In 1774, there were widespread demonstrations in many small towns all over America such as Massachusetts, Georgia and Virginia. The Suffolk Resolve was passed, which encouraged Americans to avoid paying taxes, disobey new laws and get ready for war. In a battle with Massachusetts citizens at Concord, the British soldiers were defeated. The soldiers retreated to Boston and later abandoned the city after American militia arrived. George Washington became commander of the army. The British closed all ports and sent their troops to war.
In 1776, the colonists were at war with the British seeking for independence. However, they also tried to use consensus by declaring their loyalty to the British monarchy. Thomas Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense. He criticized the colonial government, the British constitution and appealed for independence of America. In July 1776, the USA became an independent nation. The Declaration of Independence was adopted 2 days later.
After close to 23 years of resistance, tension, wars and treaties, the American Revolution paved way for independence. Between 1777 and 1781, the Spanish and Latin Americans were at one point involved in the American Revolution by either helping the colonists or the British. Americans managed to free themselves from the tyranny of the Britons, who had imposed heavy taxes, restricted trade, snatched land and infringed on the human rights of Americans. By 1781, the British were seriously weakened by many defeats and costly campaigns. They moved to Yorktown in Virginia led by Lord Cornwallis. Helped by the French troops, Washington led his troops there to lay siege. With the French naval forces present, the British forces finally surrendered. The British public no longer supported the war. Britain finally recognized American Independence through the Treaty of Paris in1783 hence; the end of the American Revolution.
Works Cited
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty! An American History. 3rd edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2005.
