Last Reviewed and Updated on June 7, 2022
America has a long and rich history, one that played out over the course of centuries. One of the notable events in the modern history of the continent is the American Revolution. Read on and learn some of the most interesting facts about the American Revolution, a revolution that gave birth to the United States of America.
1. It was an ideological and political revolution between 1765 and 1791
We’re starting off this list of facts about the American Revolution by defining what it was. The American Revolution was a political and ideological revolution. It occurred in British America between the years 1765 and 1791.
British America consisted of colonies in the Americas that were under the control of the British Empire.
2. The main cause for the revolution was the opposition of colonies to greater control by the British
As with many such events in history, it was about money. Before the 1760’s the American colonies had a high level of autonomy.
After that period, the British Parliament passed a number of acts that took away much of that autonomy and imposed more taxes. As you might imagine, this wasn’t well something people liked.
Over the years, some tensions grew, some relaxed as things were negotiated, fought over in battles, or acts imposed, withdrawn, or have been reworked.
In general, tension was growing for about a decade and when it reached the tipping point, the Revolutionary War started.
3. The Revolutionary War began on April 19th, 1775
The British troops marched from Boston to Concord on the night of April 18th, 1775. The next day the first battle started, marking the beginning of the Revolutionary War.
The first battles of the Revolutionary War are known as The Battles of Lexington and Concord.
The American Revolutionary War lasted for 7 years. The movement continued.
4. It officially ended on September 3rd, 1783
The majority of the American Revolutionary war lasted for 7 years, with the last major battle taking place at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781. After that the hostilities mostly ended.
There was still some conflict taking place until the fall of 1783, and on September 3rd, 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the conflict.
5. Majority of battles were fought in New York, New Jersey, and South Carolina
There were more than 200 battles and skirmishes occurring in these territories during the American Revolutionary War.
6. The largest battle fought was the Battle of Long Island
The Battle of Long Island was the largest battle during The American Revolution.
7. The Declaration of Independence was the result of the Revolution
The Declaration of Independence was an announcement and a list of reasons that explained why Congress voted to declare independence from Great Britain.
The document was written in the summer of July 4, 1776, almost a year into the Revolutionary War. It is one of the most important documents in the history of US.
8. Many US presidents served during the Revolutionary War
George Washington was a commander of the Continental Army. Although he had close to no experience in commanding large military forces he was very successful at it, securing the victory at Yorktown and independence of the colonies. He became the first president of the newly formed United States of America.
James Monroe was one of the Revolutionary War’s heroes and he later became the fifth president of the US.
Andrew Jackson served as a messenger during the war at the young age of 13. He was the 7th president of the US.
James Maddison was appointed a colonel of a militia but soon gave up his military career for a political one.
Other future presidents (of age) were also involved in non-military ways. Thomas Jefferson for example was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
9. Women fought in the American Revolutionary War
This is one of the lesser-known facts about the American Revolution. There were a few known women who donned the uniforms of men and fought in the war, the most known being Deborah Samson (Sampson).
Deborah Samson (Sampson) disguised herself and enlisted in the army twice. The first time, under the name Timothy Thayer, she was quickly discovered.
The second time she enlisted in the Continental Army, under the name Robert Shirtliff and was successful.
She joined an elite infantry unit, a unit of specially picked men who were taller and physically stronger than average.
She fought in several skirmishes and it was only after 17 months or so, when she needed medical aid, that her identity was uncovered, and was honorably discharged. An exciting fact indeed!
10. More troops died from disease than on the battlefield
The exact number of casualties is unknown. However, diseases such as smallpox were common at that time and have taken many lives. Sad, but true.
The spread of the disease was so intense that Washington decided to inoculate his troops against the disease.