American Revolution
Syllabification: (A·mer·i·can Rev·o·lu·tion)
Definition of American Revolution
- the war of 1775–83 in which the American colonists won independence from British rule. Called in Britain the War of American Independence.
The war was triggered by resentment at the economic policies of Britain, particularly the right of Parliament to tax the colonies, and by the exclusion of the colonists from participation in political decisions affecting their interests. Following disturbances such as the Boston Tea Party of 1773, fighting broke out in 1775; a year later the Declaration of Independence was signed. The Americans gained the support of France and Spain, and French sea power eventually played a crucial role in the decisive surrender of a British army at Yorktown in 1781