The Revolutionary War — 1775 to 1783

Q: When was the Declaration of Independence adopted?
A: July 4, 1776

Q: Why did the colonists fight the British?
A: High taxes (taxation without representation) / British army stayed in their houses / they didn't have self-government

Key events:

April 19, 1775 — Battles of Lexington and Concord ("The Shot Heard Round the World")

July 4, 1776 — Declaration of Independence signed

Winter 1777–78 — Valley Forge — Washington's troops endured brutal conditions

October 19, 1781 — British surrender at Yorktown, VA

September 3, 1783 — Treaty of Paris formally ends the war

Key figures:

George Washington — Commander of Continental Army, later 1st President

Thomas Paine — wrote Common Sense, inspired revolution

Paul Revere — "Midnight Ride" warned colonists of British advance

Marquis de Lafayette — French ally who fought with Washington

Reference:

Wikipedia: Revolutionary War

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Revolutionary_War