The American Revolution: 6 Things You Should Know (But Probably Don’t)

Starting in 1764 with the Sugar Act, the British Parliament imposed a series of taxes on the 13 American Colonies to raise money to pay off war debt (see Key Events, below). The taxes angered the colonists. Though officially ruled by British monarch King George III and Parliament, each colony had its own local government and elected representatives. The colonists believed that their own governments, not Parliament, should tax them. That’s why their rallying cry became “No taxation without representation!”

In other words, the real conflict was about who had the power to pass laws affecting the Colonies, says Matthew Skic of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. “The colonists were upset the decision [on taxes] was coming from Great Britain and not the American assemblies,” he says.

Starting in 1764 with the Sugar Act, the British Parliament put a series of taxes on the 13 American Colonies. Parliament intended to use the money raised to pay off war debt (see Key Events, below). The taxes angered the colonists. The British monarch King George III and Parliament officially ruled the Colonies. However, each colony had its own local government and elected representatives. The colonists believed that their own governments, not Parliament, should tax them. That’s why their rallying cry became “No taxation without representation!”

In other words, the real conflict was about who had the power to pass laws affecting the Colonies, says Matthew Skic of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. “The colonists were upset the decision [on taxes] was coming from Great Britain and not the American assemblies,” he says.

Who would dare second-guess George Washington, commander of the Continental Army and future first U.S. president? Plenty of people, actually. By the fall of 1777, the Patriots had suffered a few devastating defeats, and morale among soldiers was low. Some soldiers even reported going days without shoes and food. As a result, some congressmen questioned whether Washington was the right leader. They debated replacing him with General Horatio Gates, who had won a major battle over the British in Saratoga, New York.

Who would dare second-guess George Washington, commander of the Continental Army and future first U.S. president? Plenty of people, actually. By the fall of 1777, the Patriots had suffered a few devastating defeats. Morale among soldiers was low as well. Some soldiers even reported going days without shoes and food. As a result, some congressmen questioned whether Washington was the right leader. They debated replacing him with General Horatio Gates. The general had won a major battle over the British in Saratoga, New York.

But people loyal to Washington, including the Marquis de Lafayette (see number 3), defended him. When Washington got wind of what was going on, he confronted his chief rivals—Gates and General Thomas Conway—and they backed down.

In the end, Washington succeeded in part because his devotion to his troops inspired the same in them. For instance, in March 1783, some officers grew frustrated and discussed mutiny. Washington spoke with them directly—which persuaded them to quash their plans.

But people loyal to Washington, including the Marquis de Lafayette (see number 3), defended him. When Washington got wind of what was going on, he confronted his chief rivals, Gates and General Thomas Conway. Both of them backed down.

In the end, Washington succeeded in part because his devotion to his troops inspired the same in them. For instance, in March 1783, some officers grew frustrated and discussed rebelling. Washington spoke with them directly. This persuaded them to abandon their plans.

In 1777, a 19-year-old French aristocrat known as the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in America, itching to join the colonists’ fight. Lafayette had no combat experience, but he did have a grudge against England: His father had been killed battling British troops in the Seven Years’ War (1756-63). During that war, Britain had won Louisiana and Canada from France, as well as Florida from Spain.

Lafayette offered to join the Continental Army as a volunteer at his own expense. With nothing to lose—and hoping to take advantage of Lafayette’s connections in France—Congress named the teen a general. 

“He was basically an unpaid intern,” writes Sarah Vowell in her book Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. The French rookie’s enthusiasm endeared him to George Washington, and the two became close friends.

In 1777, a 19-year-old French aristocrat known as the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in America. He was itching to join the colonists’ fight. Lafayette had no combat experience, but he did have a grudge against England. His father had been killed battling British troops in the Seven Years’ War (1756-63). During that war, Britain had won Louisiana and Canada from France, as well as Florida from Spain.

Lafayette offered to join the Continental Army as a volunteer at his own expense. With nothing to lose, Congress named the teen a general. They did this partly because they hoped to take advantage of Lafayette’s connections in France.  

“He was basically an unpaid intern,” writes Sarah Vowell in her book Lafayette in the Somewhat United States. The French rookie’s enthusiasm endeared him to George Washington. They became close friends.

Between battles, Lafayette wrote letters to French officials, relentlessly pushing them to support the Patriots’ cause. Thanks in part to his efforts, and because France was still bitter about its loss to England in the Seven Years’ War, France formally backed the Americans in 1778. Its military and financial help proved crucial.

Lafayette came in handy during the fighting as well. His troops helped contain the British during the pivotal battle in Yorktown, Virginia (see number 6). Indeed, writes Vowell, the Frenchman “turned out to be the best friend America ever had.”

Between battles, Lafayette wrote letters to French officials. He relentlessly pushed France, still bitter about its loss to England in the Seven Years’ War, to support the Patriots’ cause. France formally backed the Americans in 1778 thanks to Lafayette’s efforts. Its military and financial help proved crucial.

Lafayette came in handy during the fighting as well. His troops helped contain the British during the pivotal battle in Yorktown, Virginia (see number 6). Indeed, writes Vowell, the Frenchman “turned out to be the best friend America ever had.”

Historians estimate that 500,000 enslaved blacks were in the Colonies at the time of the war. Black people faced a difficult decision: Should they choose a side and take up arms, hoping to gain personal liberty?

In 1775, the British promised freedom to any enslaved people who escaped their Patriot owners and joined Loyalist forces. Thousands of them risked their lives to try.

The colonists were more reluctant to recruit and arm blacks. However, more than 5,000 black people (both free and enslaved) eventually served in the Continental Army. Black soldiers “played a role in almost every significant battle,” says Kenneth Davis, author of the Don’t Know Much About History series.

After the war, the British agreed to a peace treaty that required them to return any property that belonged to the Americans, including slaves. But the British, refusing to send black soldiers who had fought with them back into bondage, managed to evacuate about 3,000 formerly enslaved people to freedom in Canada. However, many other black soldiers were returned to their owners. As for blacks who had helped liberate the Colonies from Britain: When the war ended, most of them found that they would not gain liberation themselves. “Most of the slaves who served in the Continental Army didn’t get their freedom,” says Don Hagist of the Journal of the American Revolution.

Historians estimate that 500,000 enslaved blacks were in the Colonies at the time of the war. Black people faced a difficult decision: Should they choose a side and take up arms, hoping to gain personal liberty?

In 1775, the British promised freedom to any enslaved people who escaped their Patriot owners and joined Loyalist forces. Thousands of them risked their lives to try.

The colonists were more reluctant to recruit and arm blacks. However, more than 5,000 black people (both free and enslaved) eventually served in the Continental Army. Black soldiers “played a role in almost every significant battle,” says Kenneth Davis, author of the Don’t Know Much About History series.

After the war, the British agreed to a peace treaty. It required them to return any property that belonged to the U.S., including slaves. But the British didn’t want to send black soldiers who had fought with them back into bondage. They managed to evacuate about 3,000 formerly enslaved people to freedom in Canada. But many other black soldiers were returned to their owners. Things weren’t much different for blacks who had helped liberate the Colonies from Britain. When the war ended, most of them found that they would not gain liberation themselves. “Most of the slaves who served in the Continental Army didn’t get their freedom,” says Don Hagist of the Journal of the American Revolution.

“When you look at it battle by battle, the Americans lost far more than they won,” says Hagist. After all, the inexperienced colonists were up against a professional army. Why, then, did Great Britain surrender? The British “didn’t have a good strategy for how to put down a popular rebellion,” explains Hagist. Even though the Continental Army was outmatched repeatedly, they persisted, aided by France and later Spain and the Netherlands, who were also eager to strip Britain of its world dominance.

“When you look at it battle by battle, the Americans lost far more than they won,” says Hagist. After all, the inexperienced colonists were up against a professional army. Why, then, did Great Britain surrender? The British “didn’t have a good strategy for how to put down a popular rebellion,” explains Hagist. Even though the Continental Army was outmatched repeatedly, they persisted. They were helped by France and later Spain and the Netherlands. The U.S. and its supporters were all eager to strip Britain of its world dominance.

As a result, the war dragged on and on—and became a global conflict. Fighting didn’t take place only in North America and Europe. The Netherlands, Spain, and France also battled Britain for territories in the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa (see number 6). All these different battles eventually stretched Britain’s resources to the limit. “Britain had to all of a sudden start dividing her military force up all over the place,” says Hagist.

As a result, the war dragged on and on. It eventually became a global conflict. Fighting didn’t take place only in North America and Europe. The Netherlands, Spain, and France also battled Britain for territories in the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa (see number 6). All these different battles eventually stretched Britain’s resources to the limit. “Britain had to all of a sudden start dividing her military force up all over the place,” says Hagist.

It’s popular belief that the war ended when British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781, in Yorktown, Virginia. But that’s only partly true. The British did admit defeat, but by that point Spain and the Netherlands had joined the war against them, and it took nearly two years for all parties to hammer out peace treaties. In the meantime, “an awful lot of fighting continued to occur,” says Hagist.

An early version of the peace deal that would later be called the Treaty of Paris was signed in France in November 1782, but getting that news to troops fighting far away took months. As a result, the real last battle of the war happened on June 29, 1783, off the coast of India in the Bay of Bengal. There, French and British fleets were attacking each other when a British ship flying a white flag arrived to tell them the war had been over for a while.

It’s popular belief that the war ended when British General Charles Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781, in Yorktown, Virginia. But that’s only partly true. The British did admit defeat, but by that point Spain and the Netherlands had joined the war against them. And it took nearly two years for all parties to hammer out peace treaties. In the meantime, “an awful lot of fighting continued to occur,” says Hagist.

An early version of the peace deal that would later be called the Treaty of Paris was signed in France in November 1782. But it took months to get that news to troops fighting far away. As a result, the real last battle of the war happened on June 29, 1783, off the coast of India in the Bay of Bengal. There, French and British fleets were attacking each other when a British ship flying a white flag arrived to tell them the war had been over for a while.