250 Years of Independence: How the US Broke from Britain

The United States is set to commemorate its 250th anniversary of independence on July 4, marking the formal separation of the 13 British colonies from Great Britain. This pivotal moment in history was the culmination of escalating tensions and armed conflict.

Throughout the 1760s and 1770s, colonists grew increasingly resentful of British policies, particularly the imposition of taxes and restrictive border regulations. These grievances fueled the formation of the Continental Congress in 1774, a political assembly that laid the groundwork for secession.

By 1775, armed clashes erupted between colonial militias and the British army, with Massachusetts becoming a focal point of the rebellion. The Continental Congress responded by establishing a Continental Army, appointing George Washington as its commander.

The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776, transforming the colonies into free states. Although the British initially dismissed the declaration, it provided a basis for international recognition. The war continued, with France joining the colonial cause in 1777, ultimately leading to British surrender in 1781 and the official end of the war with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, securing American independence.