FACTS: War between colonists and Britain ended with U.S. independence

As the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Declaration of Independence nears, the historical roots of the nation's founding are being revisited. The path to independence was paved with escalating tensions between the British colonies in North America and Great Britain throughout the 1760s and 1770s. Colonists grew increasingly frustrated with British taxation policies and border control, fueling a desire for self-governance.

In 1774, representatives from the 13 colonies convened the Continental Congress, laying the groundwork for a future separation. The following year, armed conflicts erupted between colonial militias and the British army, with Massachusetts and its capital, Boston, becoming a focal point of the rebellion. The Continental Congress responded by establishing a revolutionary army under the command of George Washington.

The pivotal moment arrived on July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, transforming the 13 colonies into free states. Although the British initially dismissed the declaration, it provided a crucial basis for international recognition. The ensuing war saw France join the colonists in 1777, formally recognizing the United States the next year. The British forces ultimately surrendered in 1781, with the Treaty of Paris in 1783 officially concluding the war and securing American independence.