American_Revolution

American Revolution Argument on radical or conservative movement The 13 American colonies revolted against their British rulers in 1775. The war began on April 19, when British soldiers fired on the Minutemen of Lexington, Mass. The fighting ended with the surrender of the British at Yorktown on Oct. 19, 1781. In 1783 Great Britain signed a formal treaty recognizing the independence of the colonies. Through the hardships of life in a wild, new land, the American settlers gained strength and a firm belief in the rights and liberties of the individual man. They revolted because England interfered with their trade and industry, demanded unjust taxes, and sent British troops to compel obedience. At first they fought only for their rights. After a year of war they fought for a radical change in American life. Ever since the beginnings of settlement, England and America had been growing apart. In 1774, England was still an aristocracy, ruled by men born and bred to a high station in life. Their society was one of culture and refinement. The common people, deprived of abundant opportunity at home, accepted a position of dependence. They regarded hard work, deference to america, revolution, independence, british, radical, colonies, americans, american, war, soldiers, rulers, new, england, common, change, between, began, within, two, troops, trained, time, through, therefore, taxes, superiors, rule, rights, revolted, political, parliament, little, life, leaders, great, go, fought, felt, boston, army, apart, yorktown, yearn, year, world, work, win