The American Revolution and Its Impact

The American Revolution (1775--1783) saw Britain's thirteen American colonies rebel against British rule and establish the United States of America. The revolution had a profound impact on ideas about liberty, democracy, and the rights of the people, influencing reform movements in Britain and across the world.

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Background: Britain and the American Colonies

By the mid-18th century, Britain's thirteen colonies in North America had a combined population of over 2 million. The colonists were largely self-governing, with their own elected assemblies, but they were subject to British trade regulations and taxation.

Key Feature	Detail
Colonial assemblies	Each colony had an elected assembly that managed local affairs
Trade regulations	The Navigation Acts required colonies to trade primarily with Britain
Taxation	The British Parliament could levy taxes on the colonies, but the colonists had no MPs in Parliament
"Salutary neglect"	For much of the 18th century, Britain had left the colonies largely to govern themselves

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Causes of the Revolution