American War of Independence

also American Revolutionary War

time frame

1775-1783

background

In order to provide safety for the settlers living in the American colonies, the British Empire shouldered tremendous costs. Therefore, the British Parliament decided that the colonies should get involved by paying at least one third of the total amount by the means of taxes on sugar (1764) and stamps (1765). However, these taxation laws were not well received by the colonists, who felt unfairly treated. According to their point of view, taxation was an illegal act as the colonies were not directly represented in the British Parliament. Thus, the famous slogan "No taxation without representation" was coined. Assuming that the colonists might accept "external" taxes instead of "internal" ones, the Townshend Acts (1767) imposed import duty on tea and several other goods. Colonists however, as for example Samuel Adams, critized these laws harshly and articulated their protest in several boycotts.

Boston Tea Party (1773)

One of these boycotts meant that three ships of the East India Company loaded with tea were denied to discharge. At nighttime (16 December 1773) several colonists disguised as Native Americans entered the ships and threw the complete load of 342 boxes of tea overboard. Consequently, the British government and Parliament decided to close Boston's harbor and demanded compensation for the East India Company.

the war

Inspite of its duration of eight years, the American War of Independence doesn't comprise any outstanding events as such. Due to their naval superiority, the British Empire was able to take over and secure much of the coastal area. Conversely, they didn't succeed in the heartland because of their rather small land army. Thus, Britain had to accept its defeat in the end. The war ended with the Treaty of Paris (1783) and which recognized the formerly British colonies as a sovereign country - the United States of America.

sources

Dippel, Horst. Geschichte der USA. München: C.H. Beck, 2005.

Pankratz, Anette. unpublished manuscript/Mitschrift. Vorlesung: 18th Century Culture. English Department: Ruhr-Universität Bochum. WS 09/10.

Wills, Gary. Inventing America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002. --Laura 17:49, 5 November 2009 (UTC)