AMERICAN REVOLUTION ALSO KNOWN AS UNITED STATES WAR OF INDEPENDENCE REFERS TO THE UPRISING OF 13 OF BRITAIN'S NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES.

IT IS THESE COLONIES THAT FIRST WON POLITICAL INDEPENDENCE AND WENT ON TO FORM THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THIS CAME AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR IN 1763, THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT DECIDED TO MAKE ITS NORTH AMERICAN COLONIES PAY MORE OF THE COSTS OF GOVERNING AND DEFENDING THEM BECAUSE BRITAIN’S VICTORY OVER FRANCE HAD BEEN WON AT A GREAT COST.

BRITISH EXPENDITURE AMOUNTED TO NEARLY £6,5 MIL BEFORE THE WAR AND ROSE TO £14 MIL DURING THE WAR. AS A RESULT THE BURDEN OF TAXATION IN ENGLAND WAS PROBABLY THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY'S HISTORY, MUCH OF IT BORNE BY THE POLITICALLY INFLUENTIAL LAND OWNING CLASS.

FURTHERMORE, WITH THE ACQUISITION OF THE VAST DOMAIN OF CANADA AND THE PROSPECT OF HOLDING BRITISH TERRITORIES BOTH AGAINST THE VARIOUS NATIONS OF NATIVE INDIANS AND AGAINST THE SPANIARDS TO THE SOUTH AND WEST, THE COSTS OF COLONIAL DEFENSE COULD BE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE INDEFINITELY.

IT THEREFORE SEEMED REASONABLE TO BRITISH OPINION THAT SOME OF THE FUTURE BURDEN OF PAYMENT SHOULD BE SHIFTED TO THE COLONISTS THEMSELVES--WHO UNTIL THEN HAD BEEN LIGHTLY TAXED.

OVER THE NEXT 12 YEARS BRITAIN IMPOSED A SERIES OF NEW TAXES AND OTHER REVENUE-RAISING MEASURES ON THE COLONIES THAT AROUSED HEATED OPPOSITION.

THE AMERICAN COLONISTS RESENTED THE TRADE REGULATIONS BY WHICH BRITAIN UTILIZED AMERICAN ECONOMIC RESOURCES TO ITS OWN ADVANTAGE, AND THEY LIKEWISE RESENTED THEIR LACK OF REPRESENTATION IN THE BRITISH PARLIAMENT.

BRITISH INTRANSIGENCE TO THESE GRIEVANCES SPURRED A GROWING DESIRE FOR INDEPENDENCE ON THE AMERICANS' PART. OPEN FIGHTING BROKE OUT BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND AMERICANS IN 1775, AND THE NEXT YEAR THE AMERICAN COLONIES DECLARED THEIR INDEPENDENCE FROM BRITAIN.

THE CONFLICT THUS