American War of Independence

The American Revolutionary War was fought between 1775-83. The 18th-century conflict began when representatives from 13 North American colonies of the kingdom of Great Britain sought more autonomy within the British Empire

Engraved portrait of George Washington, the first president of the United States of America

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A depiction of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, 4 July, 1776, from a painting by John Trumbull. The men standing are (l to r) John Adams, Roger Sherman Robert R. Livingston, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. (Image by Bettmann/Getty Images)

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A 'Thanksgiving Greetings' postcard. (Photo by K.J. Historical/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

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(Illustration by Jonty Clark for BBC History Magazine)

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The 1776 American Declaration of Independence. (Image by Universal History Archive / Getty Images)

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A painting depicting George Washington with British soldiers at Yorktown. In the final battle of the war at the siege of Yorktown, writes Jem Duducu, there were nearlyas many French soldiers and sailors as American rebels fighting for colonial independence. (Photo by: Universal History Archive/UIG via Getty Images)

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A portrait of Benjamin Franklin. (Photo by Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

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Early American patriotic flag. (Visions of America/UIG via Getty images)

10 things you (probably) didn’t know about the American War of Independence

Mel Gibson in 'The Patriot'. (© Kobal Collection)

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Why did Canada not join the colonies in the American Revolutionary War? (Photo by Francis G. Mayer/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images)

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Photo of the American flag

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A depiction of the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, 4 July, 1776, from a painting by John Trumbull. The men standing are (l to r) John Adams, Roger Sherman Robert R. Livingston, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. (Image by Bettmann/Getty Images)

8 things you (probably) didn’t know about the Declaration of Independence