The Independence of the United States , also called the American Revolution, was declared on July 4, 1776.
From this moment onwards, England ceased to command the destinies of the Americans.
Initially, from 1776 to 1787, the United States was under the Confederacy regime, where there was no central government and each state was sovereign.
Later, in 1787, the Constitution was promulgated, which united the territories under the presidential republic regime.
Background to the Independence of the United States
After the Seven Years' War (1756-1763), the English Parliament decided to raise taxes in the 13 Colonies to cover the costs of the conflict.
The settlers would also have to pay for the construction of forts, keep the soldiers deployed to American territory and were forbidden to cross the Appalachian Mountains.
In this way, George Grenville, the British prime minister, sent a military force of 10,000 men to America. A third of the expenses would be covered by two new taxes:the Sugar Act (Sugar Act ) and the Stamp Act (Stamp Act ).
The Sugar Act (1764) established new customs duties on large quantities of this product. The following year, the Stamp Law was passed, which required the use of a stamp on documents, books, newspapers, playing cards, etc. This law was so unpopular and there were so many protests that the British government revoked it.
In 1767, faced with new taxes on glass, paper, paints and the Tea Act (Tea Act ), which gave the West India Company the monopoly of this trade, the crisis broke out.
Disgruntled settlers argued that the laws were illegal. After all, they were part of the Kingdom, but they had no representatives in Parliament in the metropolis. This sentiment was summed up in the slogan “no taxation without representation ” (no taxation without representation). The complaint, however, was ignored by the British.
In 1770, the Boston Massacre took place, a fight between English colonists and soldiers that ended with the death of five American colonists. This quickly turned into an act of propaganda against the British and further encouraged the settlers who wanted separation from England.
Three years later, in December 1773, in protest of the Tea Act, several colonists invaded ships that were anchored in Boston Harbor and threw the shipment of tea overboard. The episode became known as the "Boston Tea Party".
In retaliation, in 1774, the English government enacted the Intolerable Acts (or Intolerable Laws), which affected, especially, the inhabitants of Massachusetts.
The Intolerable Acts closed the port of Boston until compensation for the destroyed tea was paid, meetings were prohibited, public demonstrations against the King of England, among others.
American War of Independence
Outraged by the Intolerable Laws, representatives of the settlers gathered at the First Continental Congress of Philadelphia , carried out in September 1774. In it, they decided to send the English government a request for the repeal of the Intolerable Acts.
The English response was negative and English and colonists clashed in the battles of Lexington and Concord.
In the face of hostilities, in 1775, state delegates met again at the Second Continental Congress of Philadelphia where they declared war on England.
On this same occasion, George Washington was appointed commander of the American forces and Thomas Jefferson was in charge of writing the Declaration of Independence. This was approved on July 4, 1776, putting an end to the domination of England in American territory.
As was to be expected, England sent thousands of soldiers to recover the region and the conflict would last until 1783. During the struggle for independence, the colonists had the military help of Spain, Holland and France.
England was defeated and would recognize the independence of the United States through the Treaty of Paris in 1783.
Consequences of the American Revolution
The American Revolution separated the United States from England and would inspire movements such as the French Revolution and the independence of the colonies of Latin America.
It was also the first time that the principles of the Enlightenment were put into practice, such as the separation of powers, the guarantee of individual freedom and social equality.
Once independence was gained, American colonists began to expand westward where they would clash with the Spaniards, Native Americans, and the issue of slavery.
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- Seven Years' War