The Revolutionary War began when the British started taxing the Colonists because they in debt from the French and Indian War. When the British passed the Tea Act then everyone got really mad because everyone loved to drink tea and now it was going to cost more. This caused the Boston Tea Party where many of the people of Boston threw all of the British tea into the harbor. Then the British passed another act the Intolerable Acts which allowed the British to shut down the port of Boston, to forbade the Colonists to hold town meetings, it provided for officers and officials to be tried in Britain, and no longer the redcoats had to sleep outside in tents they could sleep in other peoples houses.
The first battles were the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The British came by sea trying to get the weapons, but when Paul Revere told everyone the British were coming the Colonists were ready. The British won the Battle of Lexington and the Patriots or the Colonists won the Battle of Concord. The commander for the Colonists was George Washington. The Battle of Bunker Hill was the next battle, which the Patriots lost. Many people were beginning to not trust George Washington. Then in January of 1776 Thomas Payne, A Britain, wrote Common Sense about the British wrongs. Many people soon became part of the war. Inspired by Thomas Payne, Thomas Jefferson then wrote the Declaration of Independence. On July 4, 1776 it was signed and approved of.
George Washington brought up the Colonists hope of winning the war when he led the Battle of Trenton and the Battle of Saratoga. The battle of Saratoga was when the patriots crossed the Delaware River on Christmas night to go to Trenton on a sneak attack to fight the British. At the end all of the British were killed. The British were going to sneak up on the Patriots for revenge, but George Washington tricked the British again. The Patriots won both of the battles. The Battle of Saratoga convinced the French and Spaniards that they could win the war so they both became their allies. The French sent soldiers and weapons to help and the Spaniards gave them food and supplies. The Patriots spent a harsh winter at Valley Forge. Women came to help them survive the winter.
To help win the war Francis Marion used guerrilla tactics, or hit and run tactics. Benedict Arnold, formerly one of the best American Generals, was now on the British side. He captured and burned the capitol of Richmond.
The British surrendered when the Patriots trapped Cornwallis, the British general, and his troops at the Yorktown Peninsula. The Colonists won and became The United States of America. The reason for winning the war was because they were determined to win while the British were just fighting for money. They also knew the land well and had a lot of help for the French and Spanish. Most importantly, they had a smart and strong leader, George Washington.