Introduction
The American Revolutionary War was one of the most significant historical events in the history of the US. Namely, the war for independence has established the country as a sovereign entity from the perspective of national and international affairs. As a result, the 13 colonies escaped British rule by rebelling against the political connections with Great Britain and establishing an 8-year insurrection, which ultimately led to the successful signing of the Declaration of Independence. The civil conflict resulted in international wars between Great Britain and the supporters of the regime against the colonies and the states supporting the economic, political, and social independence of the US. In this paper, the Revolutionary War will be examined through an analysis of the course of the war as well as factors that facilitated the said conflict. Namely, the historical background for the insurrection, its circumstances, and its participants will be thoroughly assessed and portrayed.
Background
In order for the Revolutionary War to be adequately assessed from a historical viewpoint, it is essential to determine the factors that facilitated its establishment. According to researchers, the initial conflict that signified the generation of a nationwide insurrection was the Boston Massacre. The 1770 confrontation took place in Boston.1 The events highlight the situation in which British soldiers were being verbally assaulted and physically threatened by a group of people opposing British rule. As a result, the soldiers shot five people from the crowd of individuals expressing their opposition to the political environment at the time. The event resulted in more extensive disapproval of the existing system and was highlighted by the Patriots as an illustration of the negative aspects of the involvement of Great Britain in the internal affairs of the colonies. The Patriots, on the other hand, were the individuals who were outspoken about the importance of national independence and actively participated in the events that were linked to the country’s path to sovereignty. Needless to say, the event was one of the multiple facilitators of the subsequent conflict. Namely, historians mention that the insurrection was both a portrayal of political and financial difficulties as an ideological opposition.2 From a financial standpoint, the Seven Years’ War between the French, British, and Spanish Empires, which resulted in Great Britain’s win, has had a significant economic toll on the US. Moreover, higher taxes were imposed in order for the debt acquired during the conflict to be minimized, such as the Tea Act. From a political standpoint, the Patriots did not approve of the involvement of the British Army in internal affairs, as well as the lack of independence in decision-making processes. From an ideological standpoint, the British monarchy opposed American values such as freedom and liberty. As a result, the collision between the two viewpoints has escalated into a conflict.
The Military Conflict
The previously mentioned Boston Massacre, while signifying an informal establishment of a direct opposition between the 13 colonies and the British Empire, was not the beginning of the Revolutionary War itself. However, government documents highlight that while Great Britain began preparations for war in 1775, the first fight was later that year in Massachusetts.3 In the same year, King George III described the American colonies as “open to rebellion”. As a result, the official document allowed the force to be applied upon those rebelling against Great Britain’s involvement. It is certain that this specific document has had one direct and one indirect role.
On the one hand, the King officially documented the British readiness for involvement in order for the American colonies to be under the power of the empire itself. On the other hand, it was a direct illustration of Great Britain’s willingness to become militarily active instead of democratically representing the colonies. As a result, multiple individuals saw the opportunity to support the independence of the colonies and establish a sovereign state outside the influence of the British Empire.
Besides the internal conflicts, which were the singular events during the Revolutionary War, an international war began. Namely, historians highlight the involvement of outside forces such as France, Spain, and the Netherlands. France and Spain, countries that participated and lost in the Seven Years’ War, were militarily supporting the American colonies in their fight for independence.4 Moreover, financial support was provided by the Netherlands, which assisted in the establishment of a more substantial presence in the military arena. It is also essential to establish the participants who actively engaged in the conflict. The Continental Army, which was the force of the 13 colonies, defeated the British army. Both parties have had the involvement of multiple states and ethnic groups. Historians mention that by 1779, more than 15% of the army of the colonies was fighting for freedom.5 Moreover, most Indian tribes fought alongside the British military, with some exceptions.
Declaration of Independence
In 1775, After multiple battles and lost lives, the colonists managed to select individuals attending the Continental Congress who were to protect American freedom. A year later, all hopes to build new relationships with the British Empire vanished, and Thomas Jefferson started writing the draft for the United States Declaration of Independence, a document illustrating the nation’s sovereign freedom and liberty from outside political and economic forces.6 The statement “these United Colonies are and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States” remains the evidence of the US becoming and remaining free until this day. As a result, the Revolutionary War, which lasted eight years, resulted in the winning of the 13 colonies and their allies, the abolishment of the influence of Great Britain and its King, and the independence of the territories previously under the rule of the British empire.
Conclusion
The Revolutionary War is a historical event that shaped the colonies in the United States of America that exists now. The confrontation between the 13 British colonies and Great Britain has been attributed to various causes. On the one hand, the financial burden and the political involvement of the King in the affairs of the colonized territories created an environment in which individuals were unwilling to support their oppressors. On the other hand, the differences in values between the libertarian colonies and the monarchy from across the ocean could not coexist. Moreover, the context in which a civil conflict has resulted in a war in which multiple countries were involved highlights the complex element of international elements. The Revolutionary War ultimately resulted in the establishment and implementation of the Declaration of Independence, a historical document that ensured that the USA remained a sovereign nation. To this day, the effects of the conflict remain the basis for a free and independent country that operates on the values of democracy and liberty.
Bibliography
Archives. “The Declaration of Independence: How Did It Happen?” National Archives and Records Administration. National Archives and Records Administration, 2021. Web.
Crowder, Jack Darrell. African American and American Indians in the Revolutionary War. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2019.
Heale, M. J. The American Revolution (2020).
Minardi, Margot. “Boston’s Massacre.” Journal of American History 104, no. 4 (2018): 1002–1003.
Footnotes
- Margot Minardi, “Boston’s Massacre,” Journal of American History 104, no. 4 (2018): 1002-1003.
- M. J. Heale, “The American Revolution,” The American Revolution (2020).
- Archives, “The Declaration of Independence: How Did It Happen?,” National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives and Records Administration, 2021).
- M. J. Heale, “The American Revolution,” The American Revolution (2020).
- Jack Darrell Crowder, African American and American Indians in the Revolutionary War (Jefferson, NC: McFarland, 2019).
- Archives, “The Declaration of Independence: How Did It Happen?,” National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives and Records Administration, 2021).