The independence of the United States, also called american revolution, was the process by which the thirteen colonies became independent from England.
The declaration of independence of the United States took place on the day July 4, 1776, but it was only in 1783 that England recognized the country's independence.
During the 5 years after the declaration, the war of independence between English troops and colonists. The Americans also had the help of French and Spanish troops.
The United States was the first nation in the Americas to become independent and was a source of inspiration for struggles for independence in other countries on the continent.
The independence of the United States and other countries that followed were heavily inspired by the Enlightenment ideals defense of individual freedoms.
Picture of the commemoration of the Declaration of Independence of the United States.
Understand what the enlightenment.
Causes of US Independence
The Thirteen Colonies have always enjoyed high autonomy
and they suffered little interference from England. This was due to the little interest that England had in these colonies.However, in the second half of the 18th century, the treatment of the metropolis in relation to the colonies changed considerably and England began to exert greater control over the Thirteen Colonies.
This change in the relationship had as its main motivations the context of the Industrial Revolution and the conflicts in which England was involved in Europe, especially the Seven Years' War.
Industrial Revolution
With the advent of the Industrial Revolution, England began to see its colonies americans as important raw material sources for your industry and also how consumer market for your products.
That is, the colonies that until then were considered of little relevance to England, become a potential economic gain for the metropolis.
Understand what was the Industrial Revolution.
Seven Years War
During the 18th century England was involved in several conflicts with European nations, one of the most relevant being the Seven Years' War. This war was a dispute between France and England for the possession of the Thirteen Colonies.
England was the winner of the conflict, but due to the high costs of winning the war, it was in debt at the end of the period.
To recover its economy, it needed to raise its revenue and for that created new taxes for the American colonies. Some of these taxes were:
- Sugar Law (1764): increased taxes on sugar and other products;
- Stamp Act (1765): all documents and publications in circulation in the colony were to have a stamp paid to England;
- Hosting law: determined that English soldiers should be housed in the houses of the colonists;
- acts townshed (1767): raised taxes on tea, dyes and glass.
The increase in taxes has increased a colonists' dissatisfaction in relation to the metropolis and several protests against these new measures.
Ignoring the claims, in 1773 the English government promulgated the tea law, which determined that only English teas could be purchased by the colonies.
This law was considered the fuse and that same year, as a form of protest, several settlers dressed as Indians, boarded a loaded ship from England, and dumped the entire shipment of tea into the sea. This event became known as the Boston Tea Party.
As a reaction to the demand movements that were taking place in the colony, England tightened its treatment even more and promulgated the Intolerable Laws.
Among the measures adopted by the Intolerable Laws was the closing of the port of Boston until compensation for the loss of tea and the prohibition of meetings.
At that time, the divergences of interest between the settlers and the metropolis became clear and so the First Continental Congress of Philadelphia in 1774.
During this congress, the colonists drew up a document to the King of England declaring loyalty, however exposing his dissatisfaction with the measures adopted by the crown and requesting the repeal of the Laws Intolerable.
The king, however, sent a larger number of troops to the colonies, increasing dissatisfaction and thus, armed conflicts began.
The following year, in 1775, it was carried out from the Second Continental Congress of Philadelphia. On that occasion, the settlers decided to break with colonial rule and wrote the United States Declaration of Independence.
This statement, written by Thomas Jefferson, was published on July 4, 1776. The colony, however, did not accept independence and a war broke out.
Work that portrays the presentation of the Declaration of Independence to Congress.
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war of independence
This conflict lasted 5 years and involved, in addition to colonists and American troops, French and Spanish troops. The French and Spanish joined the colonies' side in the conflict, wanting to weaken England's power on the American continent.
THE Final victory of the Thirteen Colonies happened during the Battle of Yorktown, on October 19, 1781. But it was only in 1783 that the British recognized the independence of the United States, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
Consequences of United States Independence
The Independence of the United States, or American Revolution, consolidated the country as a Federalist Republic and among its consequences:
- It served as a source of inspiration for other American colonies to fight for their independence;
- The republican model of State served as an example for other countries, such as Brazil;
- France and Spain regained American territories they had lost;
- It allowed for the internal division of American territory, which would lead years later to the Civil War.
See also the meaning of Federalism and Republic.
