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The primary sources of the American Revolution offer a wealth of information on this famous event.

These sources include official acts and proclamations as well as several books, diaries and letters written by the various people involved in the revolution.

These sources were written during the Revolutionary-era, between the years 1763 and 1783, as well as in the years following the revolution as the newly formed United States of America tried to find its footing.

The following is a list of online primary sources on the American Revolution:

Official Documents:

♦ Yale Law School: The Avalon Project: 18th Century Documents: 1700-1799 http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/18th.asp

This collection contains official acts and documents from the 18th century. This includes official acts, royal proclamations, military reports, treaties, declaration of rights, resolutions, congressional reports, petitions and state ratifications of the U.S. Constitution.

♦ Massachusetts Historical Society: Olive Branch Petition http://www.john-adams-heritage.com/olive-branch-petition/

This was a petition issued by the Continental Congress in July of 1775 to King George III as a last resort to avoid war between the colonies and the British government.

♦ Massachusetts Historical Society: Proclamation of Rebellion http://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?item_id=818&pid=2

This was an official statement issued by King George III in August of 1775 declaring that the colonies were in a rebellion and pledging to use military force to suppress it.

♦ Library of Congress: Documents from the Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789: https://www.loc.gov/collections/continental-congress-and-constitutional-convention-from-1774-to-1789/about-this-collection/

This collection contains 277 documents about the drafting and ratification of the Constitution.

Newspapers, Broadsides & Pamphlets:

♦ Colonial Williamsburg Official History & Citizenship Site: Virginia Gazette database http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/va-gazettes/

This database contains digitized issues of the Virginia Gazette beginning with William Parks' earliest known issue from September 10, 1736 to the Clarkson & Davis' last issue printed in Williamsburg on December 9, 1780.

♦ Massachusetts Historical Society: Annotated Newspapers of Harbottle Dorr Jr: https://www.masshist.org/dorr/

This database contains digitized issues of various Boston newspapers and pamphlets collected by a Boston shopkeeper named Harbottle Dorr Jr. The materials in this collection were published between 1765 and 1778 in Boston and surrounding towns.

The newspapers in the database include the Boston-Gazette, Boston Evening Post, Boston Chronicle, Boston Post-Boy, Boston Weekly News-Letter, Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser, Essex Gazette, Massachusetts Gazette and the New England Chronicle.

The database also includes a handful of pamphlets about various people and events of the American Revolution.

♦ Northern Illinois University: American Archives: Documents of the American Revolutionary Period, 1774-1776: http://amarch.lib.niu.edu/

This database contains thousands of pamphlets, booklets and newspaper articles collected by a Washington D.C. printer named Peter Force.

The materials were published between the years 1774 and 1776 and pertain to the American Revolution. Force later published the collection in a set of nine volumes that he called the American Archives. In 2001, Northern Illinois University digitized the volumes and published them online.

♦ Massachusetts Historical Society: Broadside about the repeal of the Stamp Act https://www.masshist.org/object-of-the-month/may-2016

This is a broadside, dated 16 May 1766, describing the reaction in Boston to the repeal of the Stamp Act.

♦ Teach US History: The American Revolution - List of All Primary Sources: http://www.teachushistory.org/Revolution/ps-contents.htm

This site has a collection of broadsides about the American Revolution. The collection includes broadsides about the Declaration of Independence and the Battles of Lexington and Concord as well as the first published announcement about the Declaration of Independence.

♦ Teaching American History: American Revolution: Documents: http://teachingamericanhistory.org/library/american-revolution/

This site has a collection of American Revolution-era documents dating from 1728 to 1789. The collection includes official documents, acts, proclamations, treaties, military reports, petitions, letters and memoirs on both the French and Indian War (which played a major role in the build up to the revolution) and the American Revolution.

Letters & Diaries:

♦ Massachusetts Historical Society: Letter by Paul Revere about his midnight ride https://www.masshist.org/database/99

This is a letter written by Paul Revere describing his experience during his famous midnight ride. The letter is undated and was written at the request of Jeremy Belknap who was the corresponding secretary of the Massachusetts Historical Society.

♦ Massachusetts Historical Society: Paul Revere's Deposition about his Midnight Ride https://www.masshist.org/database/viewer.php?item_id=98

This is a deposition written by Paul Revere describing his experience during his famous midnight ride.

The deposition was probably written at the request of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress who were soliciting eyewitness accounts of the Battle of Lexington in order to prove that the British soldiers fired the first shot at Lexington.

Although Revere heard the first shots fired on the Lexington Green, a nearby house obscured his view of the skirmish.

♦ Massachusetts Historical Society: Letters, Diaries & Pamphlets about the Siege of Boston: https://www.masshist.org/online/siege/index.php?siege_list=topic

This collection contains eyewitness accounts about the Siege of Boston. Topics includes the Battle of Bunker Hill, Battles of Lexington and Concord, the British evacuation of Boston, the fortification of Dorchester Heights, raids and looting during the siege as well as skirmishes and bombardments.

♦ Massachusetts Historical Society: Letters, Diaries & Pamphlets about the Boston Massacre: https://www.masshist.org/features/massacre/initial

This collection includes diary entries, letters, pamphlets and newspaper articles about the Boston Massacre.

♦ Smithsonian Source Primary Sources about American Revolution http://www.smithsoniansource.org/display/primarysource/results.aspx?keyword=&hId=1004&pId=0

This collection includes a handful of letters, journals, newspaper articles, essays and petitions about the American Revolution.

♦ Princeton University Digital Library: The Sid Lapidus '59 Collection on Liberty and the American Revolution http://pudl.princeton.edu/collections/pudl0076

This collection includes 150 books, pamphlets and prints about the origins of the American Revolution, the revolution itself as well as the early years of the United States of America as a republic.

♦ British Online Archives: The American Revolution from a British Perspective, 1763-1783 https://microform.digital/boa/collections/66/the-american-revolution-from-a-british-perspective-1763-1783

This collection includes every available British and Irish pamphlet about the American Revolution that was printed in Great Britain between January 1st 1764 and December 31st 1783. The collection also includes related broadsides and controversial books.

♦ The Adams Papers Digital Edition http://www.masshist.org/publications/adams-papers/

The digital edition of the Adams Papers contains approximately 50 volumes of papers written by John Adams and his family that have been published via the Adams Editorial Project. The papers include letters, diaries, legal documents and autobiographies written by the Adams family between the years 1753-1840.

♦ The George Washington Papers https://www.loc.gov/collections/george-washington-papers/about-this-collection/

The George Washington Papers contains approximately 65,000 items, dating from 1745-1799. The papers include letters, diaries, and financial and military records from his time as a militia colonel during the French and Indian War, as a Virginia delegate in the first and second Continental Congresses, his role as general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, his presidency of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and his two terms as president (1789-1797).

♦ The James Madison Papers https://www.loc.gov/collections/james-madison-papers/about-this-collection/

The James Madison Papers contains approximately 12,000 items, dating from 1723-1859. The papers include letters, personal notes, drafts of legislation, an autobiography, legal and financial documents, and Madison's notes on the 1787 federal Constitutional Convention.

♦ The Thomas Jefferson Papers https://www.loc.gov/collections/thomas-jefferson-papers/about-this-collection/

The Thomas Jefferson Papers contains original Jefferson documents dating from the early 1760s until his death in 1826.

These papers consists mostly of his letters but also include his drafts of the Declaration of Independence, drafts of Virginia laws while he was a Virginia legislator and governor, public and personal documents from his time as a delegate in the Second Continental Congress and his time as a diplomat in France, Secretary of State and as President of the United States.

♦ The Alexander Hamilton Papers https://www.loc.gov/collections/alexander-hamilton-papers/about-this-collection/

The Alexander Hamilton Papers contains 12,000 items, dating from 1757-1804. The papers include letters, speeches, legal and financial documents, military papers and legislative papers.

The papers cover everything from Hamilton's childhood in the Caribbean to his experiences as a Revolutionary War officer and aide-de-camp to George Washington as well as his time as a New York legislator, United States treasury secretary and member of the Continental Congress.

♦ The Benjamin Franklin Papers: https://www.loc.gov/collections/benjamin-franklin-papers/about-this-collection/

The Benjamin Franklin papers contains 8,000 items, dating from 1706-1790, which mostly date back to the 1770s and 1780s.

The papers include letters, diplomatic papers from his time in London during the 1750s and 60s and from his time in France during the American Revolution, as well as his scientific papers and documents.

♦ Royal Collection: The Georgian Papers Online: https://gpp.royalcollection.org.uk/

The Georgian papers contains materials dating from the reigns of George I to William IV. The collection includes personal letters, diaries, account books and records of the Royal Household.

Also included in the collection are the papers of King George III, who ruled Great Britain during the American Revolution, and the De Budé collection, which consists of letters between General Jacob de Budé and King George III regarding various military matters such as the movements of French and American troops and ships in the colonies during the Revolutionary War.

♦ University of Michigan: Spy Letters of the American Revolution: http://clements.umich.edu/exhibits/online/spies/gallery.html

This is an online exhibit of spy letters from the American Revolution. Some of the letters were written by civilians and intercepted by spies or captured by enemy troops, while others were letters written by the spies themselves. Some of the letters are even written in invisible ink or in a secret code.

If you want to learn more about the American Revolution, check out the following article on the best books about the American Revolution.

Sources:
Adams, Thomas R. "The British Pamphlets of the American Revolution for 1774: A Progress Report." Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, vol. 81, 1969, pp. 31-103. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/25080669.
Calkin, Homer L. "Pamphlets and Public Opinion during the American Revolution." The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 64, no. 1, 1940, pp. 22-42. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/20087256.
Humphrey, Carol Sue. "Top 10 Revolutionary War Newspapers." Journal of the American Revolution, 26 Feb. 2015, allthingsliberty.com/2015/02/top-10-revolutionary-war-newspapers
"American Revolution - A Documentary History." The Avalon Project, avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/amerrev.asp
"American Revolution - List of all Primary Sources." Teach US History, www.teachushistory.org/Revolution/ps-contents.htm
"Primary Sources for the American Revolution." Finding Dulcinea, www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Education/US-History/The-American-Revolution.pg_00.html
"The American Revolution and the New Nation, 1775-1815: Primary Documents in American History." Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/newnation.html

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American Revolution: Online Primary Sources

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The primary sources of the American Revolution offer a wealth of information on this famous event. These sources include official acts and proclamations as well as several books, diaries and letters written by the various people involved in the revolution.

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Liberty's Kids 123 - The Hessians are Coming

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Scroll to the bottom of this page for links to the individual battles

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Learn about the American Revolution including causes, battles fought, timeline, Boston Massacre, Stamp Act, Continental Congress, important people, daily life, and fun facts.

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The Revolutionary War was a war unlike any other-one of ideas and ideals, that shaped "the course of human events." With 165 principal engagements from 1775-1783, the Revolutionary War was the catalyst for American independence.

This article provides information on the American Revolution, also known as the American War for Independence or the Revolutionary War, including commonly asked questions.

When did the American Revolution begin?

Though preceded by years of unrest and periodic violence, the Revolutionary War began in earnest on April 19, 1775, with the battles of Lexington and Concord. The conflict lasted a total of seven years, with the major American victory at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781 marking the end of hostilities, although some fighting took place through the fall of 1783.

When did the American Revolution end?

The Treaty of Paris was signed two years later, on September 3rd, 1783, by representatives of King George III including David Hartley and Richard Oswald and the United States including Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, officially ending the conflict. The treaty was ratified by the US Congress of the Confederation on January 14th, 1784.

What were the causes of the Revolution?

Through aiding the American colonists during the French and Indian War, the British government amassed an enormous debt thanks to the cost of raising, supplying, and funding an army on foreign soil. Expecting the Americans to shoulder some of the financial burden, Parliament levied several acts of taxation as a means to soften the blow.

The Sugar Act (1764), the Stamp Act (1765), and the Townshend Acts (1767) were merely some of the unpopular pieces of legislation placed upon the American colonies for the purpose of raising funds to pay the French and Indian War debt.

Years of unrest and discord followed. The Americans maintained that Parliament could make laws, but insisted only their elected representatives could tax them. The English felt that Parliament had supreme authority over the colonies.

The Americans formed Committees of Correspondence, and later, a Continental Congress, to find solutions, but could not find common ground with the English. When fighting broke out in 1775, American revolutionaries determined that separation was the only means of obtaining liberty and justice.

The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4th, 1776, formally dissolving the colonies' relationship with their mother country, and plunging the continent into war.

What are patriots?

The colonists living in the British North American colonies who rebelled against the authority of the crown were known as patriots, revolutionaries, continentals, colonials, rebels, Yankees, or Whigs.

What are loyalists?

Those who lived in the colonies and remained faithful to the Crown were known as loyalists, Royalists, King's Men, or Tories

What were British soldiers called?

British authority and soldiers likewise acquired several monikers throughout the course of the war and were synonymously referred to as the British, the Crown, Great Britain, lobster backs, and regulars.

What were the populations of the two sides?

Great Britain had 8 million residents in 1775, and the 13 colonies about 2.5 million (of which half a million were slaves).

The largest cities in the colonies were Philadelphia, Pa, (43,000), New York, N.Y. (25,000), Boston, MA (16,000), Charleston, S.C. (12,000), and Newport, R.I. (11,000)

The four largest American colonies were Virginia (447,016), Pennsylvania (240,057), Massachusetts (235,308), and Maryland (202,599).

Where were the battles fought?

The majority of the war was fought in New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina, with more than 200 separate skirmishes and battles occurring in each of these three colonies. However, engagements were fought in every one of the original thirteen colonies, with additional military actions taking place in the modern-day states of Tennessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Alabama, and Florida.

How much territory did the British control during the war?

Though difficult to quantify with numbers and acreage, there can be little doubt that the British forces occupied geographically and geopolitically important areas throughout the course of the war. They held several important Canadian forts and cities in Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick; remaining in control of these areas even following the American Revolution.

The British also controlled many key cities within the American colonies, with New York serving as its major base of operations for the duration of the war. They also temporarily possessed the cities of Boston and Philadelphia and held Savannah and Charleston until 1782.

While the British held several key urban centers, it's important to understand that 90% of the colonial population lived in the rural countryside outside of British control and influence. So, in essence, the British were only able to maintain power in areas with a strong military presence, i.e. the colonial cities.

What are the major battles of the Revolutionary War?

April 19, 1775 - The Battles of Lexington and Concord, Ma.

May 10, 1775 - The Siege of Fort Ticonderoga, N.Y.

June 6, 1775 - The Battle of Bunker (Breed's) Hill, Ma.

August 27, 1776 - The Battle of Brooklyn, N.Y.

December 26, 1776 - The Battle of Trenton, N.J.

January 3, 1777 - The Battle of Princeton, N.J.

September 11, 1777 - The Battle of Brandywine, Pa.

October 4, 1777 - The Battle of Germantown, Pa.

October 7, 1777 - The Battle of Saratoga, N.Y.

June 28, 1778 - The Battle of Monmouth, N.J.

December 29, 1778 - The Capture of Savannah, Ga.

March 29, 1780 - The Siege of Charleston, S.C.

August 16, 1780 - The Battle of Camden, S.C.

January 17, 1781 - The Battle of Cowpens, S.C.

March 15, 1781 - The Battle of Guilford Courthouse, N.C.

October 10, 1781 - The Battle of Yorktown, Va.

​What were the largest battles?

In terms of numbers: 40,000 soldiers fought in the Battle of Long Island, making it the largest battle. 30,000 men fought at Brandywine, Pa., and 27,000 participated at Yorktown, Va.

In terms of casualties, at Long Island the Americans lost 2,200 men, the British and Hessians about 350. Brandywine produced 1,500 American and 587 British and Hessian casualties.

Some engagements involved large numbers of prisoners, such as Yorktown, in which the British surrendered over 8,000 soldiers. In Charleston, S.C., the British captured 5,000 continentals, but similarly suffered a major setback when 6,200 British soldiers under General John Burgoyne surrendered at Saratoga, N.Y.

Other battles had the highest percentages of men lost. At Cowpens, S.C. and nearby Kings Mountain, S.C., the British lost roughly 90 percent of their armies. In both of these battles most of the losses were prisoners.

The crushing defeat of the Continental Army at the battle of Camden, S.C. stands out as the most costly battle of the war. Approximately 1,050 continental troops were killed and wounded, while the British suffered 314 casualties.

Were there any sieges in the war?

Yes, there were actually many sieges of cities, towns, and forts throughout the course of the war. The list below represents a sampling of the major sieges.

American aggressor:
Vincennes (In.), Ninety Six (S.C.), Yorktown (Va.), Boston (Ma.) and Quebec (Canada)

Were there any battles overseas?

There was, perhaps surprisingly, a substantial amount of fighting which occurred far from the North American soil. On March 3, 1776, the Continental Navy captured New Providence Island, in the Bahamas. American warships and privateers also raided British merchants and warships throughout the Atlantic, and even fought naval battles around the British Isles.

Furthermore, thanks to the military alliance formed with France in 1778, and later joined by both Spain and the United Netherlands, land and sea battles were fought against Great Britain in the Caribbean, Europe, and as far away as India. The opening of this global conflict was vital to the colonists in North America. The British were forced to divert important resources and manpower away from the colonies, giving the Continental Army a fighting chance against them in their war for independence.

How many soldiers served in the war?

Over the course of the war, about 231,000 men served in the Continental Army, though never more than 48,000 at any one time, and never more than 13,000 at any one place. The sum of the Colonial militias numbered upwards of 145,000 men. France also dispatched a substantial force to North America beginning in 1779, with more than 12,000 soldiers and a substantial fleet joining the Colonial Americans by wars end.

At its peak, the British Army had upwards of 22,000 men at its disposal in North America to combat the rebellion. An additional 25,000 Loyalists, faithful to Great Britain, participated in the conflict as well. Nearly 30,000 German auxiliaries, or Hessians, were hired out by German princes and served alongside the British for the duration of the war.

How many were killed or wounded?

Throughout the course of the war, an estimated 6,800 Americans were killed in action, 6,100 wounded, and upwards of 20,000 were taken prisoner. Historians believe that at least an additional 17,000 deaths were the result of disease, including about 8,000-12,000 who died while prisoners of war.

Unreliable imperial data places the total casualties for British regulars fighting in the Revolutionary War around 24,000 men. This total number includes battlefield deaths and injuries, deaths from disease, men taken prisoner, and those who remained missing.

Approximately 1,200 Hessian soldiers were killed, 6,354 died of disease, and another 5,500 deserted and settled in America afterward.

What other nationalities were involved?

The American Revolution was a truly global conflict, with battles being fought in North America, the Caribbean, and Europe. The British were aided by both loyal Native American tribes, and Hessian troops from various German principalities. The American patriots were aided by an even larger coalition of European Powers which included France, Spain, the United Netherlands, and officers of various European nations. Of particular note were the contributions of men such as the Marquis de Lafayette, Baron von Steuben, Casimir Pulaski, Rochambeau, and Tadeusz Kościuszko.

Who were the Hessians?

Because it was cheaper to hire auxiliary soldiers than muster their own, the British government hired professional German troops called Hessians. Hired out for service by their princes or nobles, more than 30,000 Hessian soldiers sailed for North America and fought on the side of the British. Though they wore their traditional uniforms, flew their own flags, and retained their officers, British generals ultimately commanded the individual Hessian units. Johan Rall and Wilhelm von Knyphausen

What role did African Americans and Native Americans play?

Early in the war, many free blacks volunteered for service with the Continental Army, but were rejected. Americans harbored long-standing fears of slave insurrection. Later in the war, when voluntary enlistments were low, various states offered freedom to slaves who fought. About 7,000 African Americans served on the Continental side.

From the start, the British courted slaves by offering them freedom, although it was never an official government policy, but rather done by local commanders on their own. About 20,000 African Americans served with the British, knowing their status might not change if Americans won.

In 1763, the British issued a proclamation banning American colonists from moving westward onto Native American lands. For this reason, coupled with several other economic and political factors, many Native Americans, including 4 of the 6 tribes of the powerful Iroquois Confederacy, sided with the British at the outbreak of the war. Joseph Brant, whose Mohawk name was Thayendanegea, served alongside British soldiers along with troops he led. Yet some several tribes sided with Colonials, including the two remaining tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy, the Oneidas and the Tuscaroras. In places like upstate New York, western Pennsylvania, and the Carolina frontier, warfare was particularly brutal and involved many Indian groups.

The fate of many Native American tribes following the American Revolution was a tragic one. Members of the Iroquois Confederacy, along with many other Native Americans, were ravaged by the conflict, weakened significantly due to infighting, disease, and were completely left out of the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783. Treaties made with the British prior to the war were ignored by the Americans, and years of bloody conflict and expansion all but destroyed the Eastern Tribes.

How were the armies organized?

The infantry regiment was the single most distinguishable unit throughout the course of the Revolutionary War. While brigades and divisions were used to group units into a larger cohesive army, regiments were far and away the primary fighting force of the Revolutionary War.

During the 18th century, the British had one of the most disciplined and well-trained armies in the entire world. A British regiment of the Line consisted of exactly 811 men at the time of the unit's formation. It was led by a Colonel, and was staffed by 40 junior officers, 72 non-commissioned officers, 24 drummers, 2 fifers, and fielded by 672 privates.

Each regiment was broken into 10 companies, eight of which were regular "center" companies, while the remaining two were "flank" companies: grenadier and light infantry. The light infantry and grenadier units were almost always placed at a regiment's flanks during battle, and would often function independently throughout the course of a battle.

Washington organized his 27,000 man army based upon British doctrine and precedents; therefore, his army was divided into 6 combat brigades consisting of about 2,400 men. Each brigade was comprised of about 5 or 6 regiments, with each regiment averaging around 470 men fit for service.

A regiment was broken down further into 1 or 2 battalions which were then broken down into companies. Companies were comprised of 40 privates, 3 corporals, 1 ensign (2nd Lieutenant), 1 Lieutenant, and a Captain.

It should be noted that for both the British and Continental Army, the size of a brigade, division, and army could vary greatly at any given time according to losses, detachments, etc.

What did the armies wear?

For the better part of three centuries, the British army was personified by its bright red uniforms and bleached white breeches. Though specific units bore alternative trim colors ranging from green, yellow, black, and white, the vast majority of infantrymen were clad in the distinctive red coats, white breeches, gaiters, and black tricorn or fur hat. Grenadier, and light infantry units wore modified versions of the standard British uniform, with the Cavalry usually wearing green coats.

The American patriots, whether serving in the regular army or with colonial militias, wore a virtual hodgepodge of uniforms prior to standardization. Beginning the war donning brown uniforms, George Washington then settled on navy blue jackets accompanied with white breeches, and tricorn hats for his army. Additionally, regiments from different regions possessed uniforms with either blue, white, red, or buff facings and trim.

What were a soldier's rations?

Under normal circumstances, the Continental soldiers were supposed to receive the following daily ration:

1 ½ pounds of flour or bread

1 pound of beef or fish OR ¾ pounds of pork

1 gill of whiskey

The British were also to receive a similar daily ration under normal circumstances:

1 ½ Pounds flour or Bread

1 pound of beef or a ½ pound of pork

¼ pint of canned Peas or 1 ounce of rice

1 ounce of butter

1 ½ gills of Rum

Rations could be highly irregular in terms of their size and composition for both armies and often depended upon the weather, road conditions, and the season.

What tactics defined combat in the Revolutionary War?

Under normal circumstances, 18th century combat entailed that two armies march toward one another, shoulder to shoulder, and usually in ranks of about three men deep. When the opposing sides were within range, orders were given to halt, present arms, to fire, and then to reload.

After several volleys, one side gained the upper hand, and they would begin to close the distance with the enemy, bayonets lowered. This typically culminated in a full out charge at close quarters; sabers, bayonets, and rifle butts were used to sweep the enemy from the field and claim victory.

Though the tactics utilized during the Revolutionary War may seem rather archaic today, the unreliability of the smoothbore muskets, usually only accurate out to about 50 yards or so, necessitated close range and proximity to the enemy. As a result, discipline and shock were the hallmarks of this style of combat, with concentrated fire and bayonet charges deciding the outcome of a battle.

Was Valley Forge a turning point?

Though shrouded in myth, Valley Forge was indeed a turning point of sorts for the Continental Army under Washington. Though the winter of 1777-78 at Valley Forge was nowhere near as severe as the one soldiers suffered through in Morristown, N.J. in 1780, the Valley Forge men nevertheless suffered harsh conditions and periodic food shortages. Despite their agony, the men at Valley Forge were transformed from a rag-tag group of undisciplined and largely ineffective soldiers to a trained and orderly army, capable of winning victories over the British.

The rapid improvement seen at Valley Forge can be largely credited to the Prussian officer turned American patriot, Baron von Steuben. Steuben's efforts not only improved training, but standardized the drill manual used by American troops and gave them a sense of pride and honor. By the spring, confidence and morale had improved dramatically and Washington led a superior army out of Valley Forge ready to face the British anew.

What role did navies play?

When the Revolution started, the Royal Navy had 270 ships at its disposal. That number swelled to 478 by the conflict's end. The Royal Navy gave the British the immense advantage of being able to move and supply troops at will almost anywhere in North America and the world.

The Continental Navy started out small in 1775 with only a handful of ships patrolling the waters of the North American shoreline. However, thanks to ships on loan from France and new vessels constructed in the colonies, the Continental Navy peaked in numbers in 1777 with 31 vessels to its name. Though the Continental Navy could hardly defeat the mighty British Navy outright, they interrupted British commerce on the high seas, won victories against superior ships, and even made successful raids around the British Isles. Men like John Paul Jones helped shape the US Navy.

Supplementing the Continental Navy was a fleet of privately owned and operated vessels officered by men known as "Privateers." Privateers held contracts passed on by the Continental Congress and were instructed to wreak havoc on British warships and shipping wherever they could. Privateers were the most successful American warships of the war, capturing more than 300 British vessels.

What kind of artillery was used?

Common types of field artillery were 3, 6, and 18-pounder guns, named for the weight of shot that the guns fired. Larger cannons and mortars - which lobbed large-caliber projectiles in high arcs onto their targets - were often used in sieges given their destructive capabilities. Howitzers, with shorter barrels and larger calibers compared to cannons, were also utilized by both sides.

While both the British and the American forces fielded a plethora of cannons, howitzers, and mortars, they largely played a supporting role on the battlefield, and rarely carried the same amount of destructive power as artillery of the Civil War era.

What role did cavalry play?

The use of cavalry varied by region, but, on the whole, cavalry forces were small and used for scouting, hit and run raids, or to support units in battle. Cavalrymen carried an array of weapons, including several pistols, a saber, and a carbine musket. Unique to the cavalry, troopers often wore leather helmets and modified uniforms conducive to mounted warfare.

Both sides also used Legions, which consisted of infantry and cavalry combined into a single unit. Legions could move quickly and were quite versatile. Examples include the American Henry " Light Horse Harry" Lee's Legion and "Tarleton's Raiders" under the command of the British Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton.

What role did spies play?

Spies were used extensively by both sides throughout the course of the war. Men and women risked their lives to gather intelligence and pass information. Nathan Hale, captured and hanged by the British, is one of the most famous American spies. British officer John Andre worked with Benedict Arnold and was caught by the Americans and hanged. James Armistead Lafayette is the most well-known African American slave playing the role of a runaway slave to gain access to General Cornwallis's headquarters. As a result, Armistead accomplished what few spies could: direct access to the center of the British War Department. Many women worked as spies, using their freedom of movement to gather information and pass through the lines. They include Ann Bates of Philadelphia and Emily Geiger of South Carolina, and Lydia Barrington Darragh.

Where can I learn more?

We recommend the following books as a great place to get started:

What is the preservation status of the Revolutionary War's battlefields and sites?

While some of the larger battle sites and camp sites are preserved as either national or state parks, a surprising number are not, or are only partially preserved. There is still great potential to save key areas at many engagement sites.

Learn how to Take Action to save Revolutionary War battlefields and ways to get involved.

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This article provides answers to frequently asked questions about the American Revolution which began in earnest on April 19, 1775 with the battles of Lexington and Concord. We include a timeline, major battle information, key players, and more.

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The American Revolution was the war in which Great Britain’s 13 American colonies won their independence. The colonies became a new country, the United States. The revolution…

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American Revolutionary War

Left, Continental infantry at Redoubt 10, Yorktown; Washington rallying the broken center at Monmouth; USS Bonhomme Richard capturing HMS Serapis

Date

April 19, 1775 - September 3, 1783
(8 years, 4 months and 15 days)

Location

Result

Territorial
changes

Great Britain cedes control of all territories east of the Mississippi R.; south of the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence R. to Spanish Florida

Belligerents

Spain

Combatants
Combatants

Commanders and leaders

Strength

Casualties and losses

The American Revolutionary War was a war fought between Great Britain and the original 13 British colonies in North America. The war took place from 1775 to 1783 with fighting in North America and other places. The Continental Army ( army of the colonies), led by George Washington and helped by France and other powers, defeated the armies of the British Empire.

After the war ended, the Thirteen Colonies became independent, which meant that the British Empire was no longer in charge of them. They together became the first 13 states of a new country called the United States of America.

Background and causes

The war started after years of problems between the British Empire and the colonists of North America after the French and Indian War (The seven years war). People in the Thirteen Colonies disliked many of the actions of the British Government, such as the Intolerable Acts. For many years the British government decided which countries could trade with the colonies, instead of the colonies deciding it themselves. Many colonists wanted free trade.

In 1765, the British Parliament needed money to pay back the debt for the French and Indian War. They passed a Law called the Stamp Act. This law said that colonists had to buy stamps for legal papers, newspapers, and even playing cards, as other British people did. The money from the stamps went to the King. The colonies did not follow this law. The colonies kept refusing to do what the King wanted. The Boston Tea Party and Boston Massacre caused people to become more angry about the situation. The British sent more soldiers (who were called Red Coats by the colonists to insult them) to keep control of the colonies and they sometimes had to fight. In 1774, the British passed the Intolerable Acts to punish the colonists in Boston for the Boston Tea Party.

Not all colonists wanted to leave the British Empire. The , or Tories, stayed loyal to Great Britain. They were not going to change their views. The , or Whigs, wanted independence. Before the Revolutionary War, most people in America were Loyalists; but after it, most people were Patriots.

Many colonists wrote letters showing how they felt. Thomas Paine wrote Common Sense, a famous pamphlet about independence from Britain. Other colonial leaders, such as Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson wanted independence.

Northern battles

The first battles of the American Revolutionary War were Lexington and Concord. One of the first major battles was the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. After that, the British controlled Boston. Around that time, the Second Continental Congress sent an Olive Branch Petition to King George III (which he rejected) and named George Washington head of the army. Early in 1776, Washington's army drove the British out of Boston.

A few months later the Continental Army and British troops under William Howe fought the New York and New Jersey Campaign. During the New York battles, the British started using Hessian troops, who were from Germany. Though the colonists lost New York (the British would hold it for the rest of the war), Washington was able to hold onto most of his army. Over Christmas, 1776-77, Washington crossed the Delaware River and defeated the Hessians at Trenton and the British at Princeton.

In 1777, the British attacked the city of Philadelphia, then the American capital. Two battles were fought over Philadelphia: Brandywine and Germantown. Again, the Americans lost a major city, but Washington was able to keep most of his army. Around this time, the Frenchman Lafayette joined the American Army. In 1778, the British left Philadelphia. Between 1778 and 1781, most battles between Washington and the British were inconclusive (they did not have any major effect militarily).

One of the most important battles was the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. American soldiers under Horatio Gates forced a British surrender under John Burgoyne. This led to France and Spain joining the war on the side of Americans. These powerful countries fought the British around the world. From 1778 to 1780, there was fighting in the West.

The Scottish (fighting on the side of the Americans) commerce raider John Paul Jones also won several naval battles over the British, but the French navy did most of the fighting at sea. The Americans tried to capture Canada several times.

Southern battles

In 1779 major fighting shifted to Georgia and South Carolina. As fighting spread northward, General Nathanael Greene led the Rebel campaign. He caused many people in the South to be Patriots instead of Loyalists, and won several battles against the British.

In 1781, Washington and French general Jean Rochambeau led an offensive against British troops in Yorktown, Virginia. This was called the Battle of Yorktown. When their soldiers lost this battle, the British surrendered.

The British continued to fight the French and Spanish for two years, winning in India, Gibraltar and elsewhere.

End of the war

The American Revolution came to an end in 1783 when a peace treaty was signed in Paris, France. In the Treaty of Paris, the British King, George III accepted the independence of the colonies and recognized the newly created nation as the United States of America.

The treaty also gave all the land Britain said it owned which was west of the Appalachians as far as the Mississippi River to the new country. This land would eventually become part of the US, and lead to the creation of 35 new states (some of which later rebelled as part of the Confederate States of America) that now make up the contiguous United States. Many Loyalists fled to Canada.

Casualties

As usual for 18th-century wars, casualty figures (killed/wounded/missing/captured) for the American Revolution are poorly known. Unlike American Civil War casualties which were published in newspapers, Revolutionary War casualty reports are found in local town histories; total casualties of the Revolution are rough estimates. Estimates are around 25,000 Americans and 27,294 British and German seaman.

Revolution beyond America

The American Revolution had a strong immediate impact in Great Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and France. Many British and Irish Whigs openly supported the Patriots in America, and the revolution was the first lesson in politics for many Europeans who later became active during the era of the French Revolution.

The American Revolution set an example to the rest the world. For the first time in the western world, a people had successfully overthrown the rule of a major country. The revolution encouraged the people in other countries to fight for their rights, and showed that they could be successful like the Americans.

Similarly, in the early 19th century, revolutions broke out in the colonies in South America against Portugal and Spain. Years later, similar revolutions occurred in Asia and other places.

The American Revolution established the United States with its numerous civil liberties and set an example to overthrow both monarchy and colonial governments. The United States has the world's oldest written constitution, and the constitutions of other free countries often bear a striking resemblance to the US Constitution, often word-for-word in places. It inspired the French, Haitian, Latin American Revolutions, and others into the modern era.

Although the Revolution eliminated many forms of inequality, it did little to change the status of women, despite the role they played in winning independence. Most significantly, it failed to end slavery which continued to be a serious social and political issue and caused divisions that would ultimately end in civil war. While many were uneasy over the contradiction of demanding liberty for some, yet denying it to others, the dependence of southern states on slave labor made abolition too great a challenge. Between 1774 and 1780, many of the states banned the importation of slaves, but the institution itself continued.

In 1782, Virginia passed a law permitting manumission and over the next eight years more than 10,000 slaves were given their freedom. With support from Benjamin Franklin, in 1790 the Quakers petitioned Congress to abolish slavery; the number of abolitionist movements greatly increased, and by 1804 all the northern states had outlawed it. However, even many like Adams who viewed slavery as a 'foul contagion' opposed the 1790 petition as a threat to the Union. In 1808, Jefferson passed legislation banning the importation of slaves, but allowed the domestic slave trade to continue, arguing the federal government had no right to regulate individual states.

Commemorations of the Revolutionary War

After the first U.S. postage stamp was issued in 1849, the U.S. Post Office frequently issued commemorative stamps celebrating the various people and events of the Revolutionary War. However, it would be more than 140 years after the Revolution before any stamp commemorating that war itself was ever issued. The first such stamp was the 'Liberty Bell' issue of 1926.

Related pages

Images for kids

British North America, 1777 post-1763 concessions to Britain from France (green) and Spain (yellow)

Iconic 1851 painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware

British siege of Charleston, worst US defeat of the war, May 1780

American Revolution principal campaigns. British movement (red) & American (blue) The timeline shows British won most battles in the first half; Americans won most in the second.

Military Governors and Staff Officers in British North America and West Indies 1778 and 1784

USS Ranger, Capt. Jones. France gives the US flag its first foreign salute

USS Alliance, Capt. Barry won the last engagement

The 1763 Royal Proclamation set the western boundary for the 13 Colonies

In Spanish: Guerra de Independencia de los Estados Unidos para niños

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American Revolutionary War Facts for Kids

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Learn American Revolutionary War facts for kids