Battles of the Revolutionary War

The Revolutionary War was the pivotal point in American history that shaped the future of the country. The following article will enlist the various battles, fought between 1775 to 1783.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

The Thirteen Colonies on the North American continent, fought the American War of Independence against the Kingdom of Great Britain. This war, also known as the American Revolutionary War, helped the colonies overthrow the British rule.

Reasons for Revolutionary War

The colonized Americans wanted complete freedom, and to be governed by their own laws. They wanted to do away with the unreasonable taxes levied upon them by the British government. The people of colonial America were angry with the British rule, as they thought they were being robbed by their rulers. They worked hard to earn their livelihood that was lost to the British, in the form of taxes. To show the British government their resentment, they stopped paying the taxes completely. The British, in turn, sent their armies to make sure that the colonies did pay the taxes. This forceful payment was opposed by many. Some men even went against the government, and fought against the British army. Their main aim was to free America from the British rule.

The first Battle of the Revolutionary War was triggered, when the British army tried to seize ammunition in the Concord of Massachusetts. This was known as the Battle of Concord, and was fought in 1775. In 1776, General George Washington, fought his way and managed to cross the Delaware River, and reach New Jersey. Here, he defeated the British garrisons in Trenton and Princeton. The colonists seized the 13 colonial governments, and formed the Second Continental Congress. The next year, they formally declared American independence, and formed the new nation of the United States of America. Many Native Americans and African-Americans fought the Revolutionary War that followed in 1778.

The Americans were at a loss, as the British used their naval superiority to capture and occupy the coastal cities. They could even control the countryside, as the revolutionaries had a very small terrestrial army. After the Americans won Saratoga in 1778, the French entered the war against the British. The United States and France signed a pact of trade and commerce that made France an ally of the Americans. Under the leadership of Louis XVI, France declared war against Great Britain.

Soon, Spain and Netherlands joined the war as French allies, and this led to a major naval victory in Chesapeake. The British army at Yorktown surrendered in 1781, and this made the British exert caution. Then, the British gradually pulled their troops from the American land, and finally in 1782, four years after the war began, The House of Commons in Great Britain voted top end it. The last remaining troops of South Carolina and Georgia were pulled out in 1782. Eventually, the Treaty of Paris ended the war in 1783. This was a major victory for the Americans, as it led to the recognition of the sovereignty of the United States. The territory of the United States was now bounded by present-day Canada to the north, Florida to the south, and the Mississippi river to the west.

The Revolutionary War could not have won without the assistance from France. Also, the distance between the ruling country and the colonies played a major role. The Americans had the advantage of home ground, as they were familiar with the territory, whereas the British faced logistic problems. The orders sent from Britain were always two months late, as the British relied on ocean transport. This meant that by the time the troops received their orders, the situation and game play had already changed in America.

America is vast country, with no specific capital, the fall of which would mark the end of the war. Even if the British managed to seize the colonies, they did not have enough manpower to control them. The troops had to remain in the captured colonies or the Revolutionaries would take control. The Britishers faced manpower shortage too, because they had to face the French and Spanish Army together. There were many other factors, whose combined effects led to the fall of the British rule, and rise of the United States of America as a nation.

There were over 10,000 events that were recorded on American soil during the Revolution. The losses were uncountable, and it is said more than six hundred thousand lost their lives and many others went unaccounted. Few battles of the Revolutionary War were said to be landmark points during the period. Let us now have a look at them in order.

Battles Fought During the Revolutionary War

The United States of America fought many other battles after the independence within the country, which were in some way or the other, responsible for making it one of the greatest nations in the world.