American History · The Birth of a Nation

The American Revolution

The war that created the United States. The story of how thirteen British colonies declared their independence and won it on the battlefield — the causes, the battles, the people and the documents of the American Revolution.

1775→1783

The Revolutionary War

Colonies to states

Battles & events

Begin Here

The Story of the Revolution

The road to war, the war itself, and the Americans who fought it.

the road to war

The Road to War

Causes of the Revolution

From the Stamp Act and the Boston Massacre to the shots at Lexington — how thirteen colonies came to rebel.

Read the causes →

timeline

Timeline

Battles & Events

The military history of the war, year by year, from Lexington and Concord to Yorktown.

Follow the war →

people

People

Americans of the Period

Washington, Franklin, Adams and the patriots, loyalists and ordinary people of the Revolution.

Meet the people →

In Their Own Words

Voices & Sources

First-hand accounts, the stories of the era, and the documents that founded a nation.

eyewitness

Eyewitness

First-Hand Accounts

The Revolution in the words of the soldiers and civilians who lived it.

Read the accounts →

lore

Lore

Stories & Sayings

The famous stories, sayings and legends of the Revolutionary era.

Explore the stories →

primary sources

Primary Sources

Documents

The declarations, resolves and key documents of the American Revolution.

Read the documents →

More to Explore

The War & Its Legacy

The economy, Washington’s own words, and a reflection on what it all meant.

economy

Economy

The Economics of Revolution

Taxes, trade and the economic grievances that helped spark the rebellion.

Read the history →

in his words

In His Words

Washington’s Reports

George Washington’s own dispatches and reports from the field.

Read the reports →

video

Video

The Author’s View

A short video reflection on the meaning of the American Revolution.

Watch →

From our shop · History Shopping

The Revolution, in our own illustrations

The midnight ride, the Delaware, Valley Forge and Yorktown on mugs and posters, printed to order. From $16.95.

See the whole Revolutionary War section →

The Founders mug

Midnight Ride mug

Crossing the Delaware mug

From the makers of HistoryCentral · For iPhone and iPad

American History: 1492–2024

The whole of American history, the Revolution included: hundreds of photographs, more than 150 videos, interactive maps and ten games.

See all our history apps →