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The American Revolution (1775–1783) - Coggle Diagram
The American Revolution (1775–1783)
In the American War of Independence
Great Britain fought against its 13 colonies
located on the Atlantic Coast of North America
THE CAUSES OF THE WAR
a combination of factors
Political factors
the British Parliament made decisions about
taxes and other issues related to the colonies
Great Britain refused to allow the colonies to be represented in Parliament
Economic and social factors
by this time there was a wealthy colonial bourgeoisie
who wanted the freedom to trade
without the interference of Great Britain
Ideological factors
the colonists were familiar with Enlightenment thinking about liberty and equality
These ideas became the basis for the independence movement
In the short term
the conflict was caused by the high cost of the Seven Years' War
in which Great Britain fought against France
for control of the territory that today forms part of Canada
Great Britain won the war
George III increased taxes on products
sugar
in order to pay his war debts
lead
tea
The colonies refused to pay these taxes
There were various protests
such as the 1773 Boston Tea Party
in which a group of colonists threw a cargo of tea into the sea in Boston
THE WAR OF INDEPENDENCE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
The war began when some of the colonies decided to fight for independence
In 1775
they created their own army
which was led by George Washington
The war developed in two stages
the first stage
Great Britain had some military successes
but the colonists took actions that were politically significant
On 4 July 1776
the Continental Congress
proclaimed the Declaration of Independence
the second stage
the colonists' military victory at the Battle of Saratoga
led France and Spain to offer them support
As a result
the two sides were more closely matched in military terms
Great Britain recognised American independence
the birth of the United States in the 1783 Treaty of Versailles
In 1787
the United States Constitution was adopted
This established a federal republic
based on the Enlightenment principles of equality and liberty
The American Revolution had important consequences
The United States became a symbol
for the struggle for liberty and equality in other countries
It also showed that it was possible to put Enlightenment ideas into practice