What was the American Revolution?

 

The American Revolution, also called United States War of Independence or American Revolutionary War, (1775–83), was an insurrection by which 13 of Great Britain’s North American colonies won political independence and went on to form the United States of America. The war was caused by British attempts to assert greater control over colonial affairs after having long adhered to a policy of salutary neglect. Until early in 1778 the conflict was a civil war within the British Empire, but afterward it became an international war as France (in 1778) and Spain (in 1779) joined the colonies against Britain. Sea power was vital in determining the course of the war, since it helped Britain compensate the small numbers of troops sent to America and allowed the French to help bring about the final British surrender at Yorktown.