The American Revolution: Winning Independence
Grade 5 · Social Studies · Study Guide
Discover why the American colonists fought for freedom from Britain and how they created a new nation.
The American Revolution (1775–1783) was the war in which thirteen British colonies in North America broke away from Great Britain and formed the United States of America. The colonists had many reasons to be angry with Britain. They had to pay taxes — like the Stamp Act and the Tea Act — but had no representatives in the British Parliament. Their rallying cry became "No taxation without representation!"
Tensions boiled over at the Boston Massacre in 1770, when British soldiers fired into a crowd and killed five colonists. Three years later, colonists dumped an entire shipment of British tea into Boston Harbor in protest — an event called the Boston Tea Party. These events pushed the colonies toward open rebellion. Fighting broke out at Lexington and Concord in April 1775, and the Revolutionary War had begun.
The Continental Congress chose George Washington to lead the Continental Army. The war was long and difficult. A turning point came at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, where the Americans won a major victory and convinced France to join the fight on their side. French money, troops, and ships proved critical. The war effectively ended at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, when Washington and French General Rochambeau trapped British General Cornwallis and forced his surrender. The Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially recognized American independence.
| Year | Event | Why It Mattered |
|---|---|---|
| 1770 | Boston Massacre | British soldiers killed 5 colonists; anger toward Britain grew |
| 1773 | Boston Tea Party | Colonists dumped British tea; Britain punished Boston |
| 1775 | Battles of Lexington & Concord | First shots of the Revolutionary War fired |
| 1776 | Declaration of Independence | Colonies officially declared freedom from Britain |
| 1777 | Battle of Saratoga | American victory convinced France to become an ally |
| 1781 | Battle of Yorktown | British surrender; war effectively over |
| 1783 | Treaty of Paris | Britain recognized U.S. independence |
| Group | Wanted | Approximate % of Colonists |
|---|---|---|
| Patriots | Independence from Britain | ~40–45% |
| Loyalists | To remain part of the British Empire | ~15–20% |
| Neutral | Neither side strongly | ~35–45% |
Key terms
- Colony
- A territory ruled by a distant country; the 13 American colonies were ruled by Britain.
- Taxation without representation
- Being forced to pay taxes to a government that does not include your elected representatives.
- Continental Army
- The unified army of the American colonies, led by George Washington during the Revolution.
- Declaration of Independence
- The document signed on July 4, 1776, declaring that the thirteen colonies were free from British rule.
- Loyalist
- A colonist who remained loyal to the British Crown during the Revolution.
- Patriot
- A colonist who supported independence from Britain.
- Treaty of Paris (1783)
- The peace agreement that ended the Revolutionary War and recognized American independence.
Practice questions
What was the main complaint colonists had against British taxes?
- The taxes were too hard to calculate
- They had no representatives in Parliament to vote on the taxes
- Britain was spending the tax money on other countries
- Taxes were only collected from wealthy colonists
Show answer
Answer: They had no representatives in Parliament to vote on the taxes
The Battle of Saratoga was a British victory that discouraged American troops.
Show answer
Answer: False
The American Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the __________ in 1783.
Show answer
Answer: Treaty of Paris
Who commanded the Continental Army during the American Revolution?
- Benjamin Franklin
- John Adams
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson
Show answer
Answer: George Washington
France became an ally of the American colonists after the Battle of Saratoga.
Show answer
Answer: True
Fun facts
- The Declaration of Independence was primarily written by Thomas Jefferson, who was only 33 years old at the time.
- Valley Forge, Pennsylvania was where Washington's army camped through a brutal winter in 1777–1778 — thousands of soldiers suffered from cold and hunger, but the army survived and grew stronger.
- Paul Revere's famous midnight ride on April 18, 1775 warned that British troops were marching to Lexington and Concord.
Get a personalized course on American Revolution built around your child.