# data[].attributes.body
The British Parliament passed the Stamp Act, imposing a direct tax on American colonists for the first time. This required printed materials like newspapers and legal documents to bear a tax stamp. The colonists responded with the rallying cry "No taxation without representation!" and organized boycotts of British goods. The Stamp Act Congress, representing nine colonies, formally protested the tax, marking one of the first unified colonial responses to British policies.

# data[].attributes.body
On March 5, tensions between colonists and British soldiers erupted into violence when a mob of protesters confronted British soldiers. The soldiers fired into the crowd, killing five colonists including Crispus Attucks, considered the first casualty of the American Revolution. Paul Revere's engraving of the incident spread throughout the colonies, fueling anti-British sentiment. Though the soldiers were later acquitted (with John Adams as their defense attorney), the event became powerful propaganda for the patriot cause.

# data[].attributes.body
In protest against the Tea Act, which maintained a tax on tea and gave the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales, colonists disguised as Mohawk Indians boarded three ships in Boston Harbor and dumped 342 chests of tea into the water. This act of defiance was organized by the Sons of Liberty, led by Samuel Adams. The British response—a series of punitive laws called the Intolerable Acts—further united the colonies against British rule and led directly to the First Continental Congress.

# data[].attributes.body
In response to the Intolerable Acts, delegates from 12 of the 13 colonies (Georgia did not attend) met in Philadelphia to coordinate a colonial response. The Congress endorsed the Suffolk Resolves, called for a boycott of British trade, and sent a petition to King George III seeking redress of grievances. They also agreed to reconvene if their concerns were not addressed, laying the groundwork for a united colonial government. This marked a significant step toward organized resistance and eventual independence.

# data[].attributes.headline
April 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord

# data[].attributes.subject
April 19, 1775: Battles of Lexington and Concord

# data[].attributes.body
"The shot heard 'round the world" marked the beginning of armed conflict between British troops and colonial militiamen. British forces marched from Boston to seize colonial weapons stores in Concord. Paul Revere and other riders warned the countryside that "the British are coming." At Lexington Green, the first shots were fired. Though the British reached Concord, they faced increasing resistance and suffered heavy casualties during their retreat to Boston, with colonial minutemen attacking from behind trees and stone walls.

# data[].attributes.headline
July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence

# data[].attributes.subject
July 4, 1776: Declaration of Independence

# data[].attributes.body
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, primarily drafted by Thomas Jefferson with input from Benjamin Franklin and John Adams. This revolutionary document proclaimed the colonies' separation from Great Britain and established the founding principles of the new nation based on Enlightenment ideals: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, 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." The document listed 27 grievances against King George III and would inspire independence movements worldwide.

# data[].attributes.headline
December 1776: Washington Crosses the Delaware

# data[].attributes.subject
December 1776: Washington Crosses the Delaware

# data[].attributes.body
Following several defeats and retreats, General George Washington's Continental Army faced low morale and dwindling enlistments. In a bold surprise attack on December 25-26, Washington led his troops across the ice-filled Delaware River and defeated Hessian mercenaries at Trenton, New Jersey. He followed with another victory at Princeton. These crucial victories boosted American morale at a critical moment, preventing the collapse of the revolutionary cause and demonstrating Washington's strategic brilliance and leadership during the darkest days of the war.

# data[].attributes.body
Often called the turning point of the American Revolution, the American victory at Saratoga resulted in the surrender of British General John Burgoyne and his army of 5,700 men. Led by General Horatio Gates, with key contributions from Benedict Arnold (before his later treason), American forces prevented the British from splitting the colonies along the Hudson River. Most importantly, this victory convinced France to formally ally with the Americans, bringing crucial military and financial support to the revolutionary cause.

# data[].attributes.body
Following the American victory at Saratoga, France formally recognized American independence and signed the Treaty of Alliance on February 6, 1778. This critical alliance, negotiated by Benjamin Franklin, brought essential financial aid, naval support, and military supplies to the American cause. The French involvement transformed the war from a colonial rebellion into an international conflict, forcing Britain to defend its interests globally. Spanish and Dutch support would follow, creating a truly global war that stretched British resources thin.

# data[].attributes.body
The decisive battle of the American Revolution occurred when American and French forces led by Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau trapped British General Cornwallis's army at Yorktown, Virginia. The French navy under Admiral de Grasse blocked British naval escape routes. After a three-week siege, Cornwallis surrendered his army of over 8,000 men on October 19. British bands reportedly played "The World Turned Upside Down" as their troops laid down arms. This defeat effectively ended major British military operations in North America and led to peace negotiations.

# data[].attributes.body
The Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. American negotiators Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay secured remarkably favorable terms: Great Britain recognized American independence; established generous boundaries extending to the Mississippi River; granted fishing rights near Canada; and agreed to withdraw British troops from American territory. The treaty didn't address the rights of Loyalists who had supported Britain or the status of Native American tribes. With independence secured, the new nation faced the challenge of establishing an effective government.

# data[].attributes.headline
Key Figure: George Washington (1732-1799)

# data[].attributes.subject
Key Figure: George Washington (1732-1799)

# data[].attributes.body
The indispensable leader of the American Revolution, Washington transformed from a Virginia planter to Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. Despite military setbacks, he held the army together through harsh winters at Valley Forge and Morristown. His greatest strengths were strategic leadership, personal integrity, and unwavering commitment to civilian authority. After victory, Washington rejected calls to become king, resigned his commission, and later served as the first President (1789-1797). His voluntary relinquishment of power established the precedent of peaceful transition that distinguishes American democracy.

# data[].attributes.headline
Key Figure: Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

# data[].attributes.subject
Key Figure: Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)

# data[].attributes.body
Principal author of the Declaration of Independence at age 33, Jefferson articulated the revolutionary ideals that would define the new nation. A Virginia planter, lawyer, and statesman influenced by Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu, Jefferson championed natural rights, religious freedom, and republican government. Though he owned slaves throughout his life—a profound contradiction to his written ideals—his words that "all men are created equal" would inspire future struggles for freedom and equality, including abolition movements, women's suffrage, and civil rights campaigns around the world.

# data[].attributes.body
The British monarch during the American Revolution, King George III became the personification of tyranny in American eyes. The Declaration of Independence specifically addressed 27 grievances against him. George III took a hard line against colonial resistance, declaring the colonies in rebellion and committing substantial military resources to suppressing the revolution. While portrayed as a tyrant in American history, in Britain he was seen as defending the rightful authority of Parliament and the integrity of the British Empire. His long reign would later be marked by recurring mental illness.

# data[].attributes.headline
Global Impact: Inspiring Revolutions Worldwide

# data[].attributes.subject
Global Impact: Inspiring Revolutions Worldwide

# data[].attributes.body
The American Revolution established a powerful model of successful colonial rebellion and republican government that reverberated globally. Most immediately, it influenced the French Revolution (1789-1799), with the French having witnessed American independence firsthand through their military alliance. Throughout the 19th century, independence movements in Latin America led by figures like Simón Bolívar explicitly cited American precedent. The principles articulated in the Declaration of Independence and later in the U.S. Constitution inspired constitutional movements worldwide. Even today, revolutionaries and democracy advocates continue to invoke American revolutionary principles and documents.