The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) | Full History & Key Battles Explained - video Dailymotion

The Timeline of Wars

Explore the full story of the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), the conflict that led to the birth of the United States of America. Learn how 13 colonies fought against British rule, the causes of the revolution, major battles like Lexington and Concord, Saratoga, and Yorktown, and the role of figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and King George III. Perfect for students, history buffs, and anyone interested in the founding of America.

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00:00The American Revolutionary War wasn't just a fight, it was a bold experiment that changed

00:08the world. Before this most people lived under kings and queens with little say in their own

00:12lives. The idea that ordinary people could govern themselves was radical. The war was fought for

00:18liberty, for rights no government could take away. The revolution made this dream real,

00:23inspiring people everywhere. It showed that a colony could stand up to a mighty empire and win.

00:29The principles, freedom, individual rights, government by the people, became a beacon for

00:35the oppressed. The story of the revolution is about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

00:40Farmers, merchants and artisans risked everything for a cause they believed in. Their struggle

00:45created the United States and laid the foundation for a new kind of nation. Understanding this war

00:50explains why Americans value freedom so deeply. The war was messy and complicated, but its message

00:55is simple. People have the right to be free. Government should serve the people, not the

01:01other way around. This is the story of how that message was fought for and won. It changed the

01:07course of history for everyone.

01:11The trouble began with money, Britain's debt after the French and Indian War. To pay it off,

01:17Parliament taxed the colonies, the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and more. Colonists had no say in

01:23these taxes. No representation in Parliament. No taxation without representation became their

01:29rallying cry. Tensions exploded in Boston in 1770, when British soldiers fired into a crowd

01:35killing five colonists. The Boston Massacre. Paul Revere's engraving of the event spread outrage.

01:42In 1773, the Tea Act pushed colonists further. The Sons of Liberty, disguised as Native Americans,

01:48dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, the Boston Tea Party. Britain responded with the

01:56intolerable acts, closing Boston's port, and stripping local control. These harsh laws united

02:02the colonies against British rule. What started as a protest over taxes became a fight for rights.

02:08The colonists saw British actions as tyranny. Each new law pushed them closer to rebellion.

02:13The seeds of revolution were sown in these acts of resistance. The stage was set for open conflict.

02:20The colonies were on the brink of war.

02:25The intolerable acts backfired, uniting the colonies instead of dividing them.

02:30Other colonies sent aid to Boston, seeing Britain's punishment as a threat to all.

02:34In 1774, leaders from 12 colonies met in Philadelphia, the First Continental Congress.

02:40They agreed to boycott British goods and sent a petition to King George III, hoping for peace.

02:45But they also began preparing for war, training minutemen, and stockpiling weapons.

02:50Tension filled the air. Everyone sensed conflict was near. Patrick Henry's words captured the mood.

02:56Give me liberty or give me death. The colonies had tried petitions and boycotts. Now they felt left

03:03with no choice but to fight for their freedom. The spirit of rebellion was alive. The colonies were no

03:08longer just separate entities. They were a united front. The move from protest to open rebellion was

03:14inevitable. The first sparks of war were about to ignite. The fight for liberty was underway.

03:22The spark came in April 1775. British troops marched to seize colonial weapons in Concord,

03:28but patriots like Paul Revere warned the minutemen. At Lexington a shot rang out. The shot heard

03:33round the world. The British fired, killing eight colonists. The revolution had begun. The redcoats

03:40marched to Concord, but most supplies were gone. On their retreat, minutemen ambushed them from behind

03:45walls and trees. The British suffered heavy losses. News of the battle spread quickly. War was now a

03:52reality. Thousands of militia surrounded Boston trapping the British. The Second Continental Congress

03:58met now tasked with leading a war. They created the Continental Army and chose George Washington as

04:03commander. The colonies were now fighting for their survival. The American Revolution was fully

04:08underway. Washington's army faced its first test at Bunker Hill. The British won the ground, but at a

04:17heavy cost, Americans proved they could stand and fight. Many colonists still hoped for peace, but King

04:23George III declared them rebels. Thomas Paine's pamphlet argued for independence, swaying public opinion.

04:29By July 1776 the Continental Congress was ready. On July 4th they adopted the Declaration of Independence

04:36written by Thomas Jefferson. It declared all men are created equal, with rights to life, liberty, and the

04:42pursuit of happiness. The colonies became the United States of America. The dream of self-government was

04:48now a reality. A new nation was born. Declaring independence was one thing. Winning it, was another. The Continental

04:58Army suffered defeats and hardship, nearly collapsing by the end of 1776. In a bold move, Washington crossed the

05:06Delaware River on Christmas night, surprising the Hessians at Trenton. The victory revived American morale.

05:12Another win at Princeton followed, keeping hope alive. In 1777, the British tried to cut off New England, but were

05:19stopped at Saratoga. American forces surrounded and forced the surrender of a British army. Saratoga was a turning

05:26point. It convinced France to openly support the Americans. French money, troops, and ships would change the war. The

05:34revolution became a global conflict. The Americans now had a real chance to win. The alliance with France was a game-changer.

05:40The British faced new challenges on multiple fronts. The tide of war was turning. The fight for independence gained new

05:47momentum.

05:50The French alliance brought hope, but Valley Forge brought hardship. Washington's army endured a brutal winter.

05:58Cold, hunger, and disease claimed thousands. Yet the soldiers' resilience never broke. Baron von Steuben arrived, drilling the

06:06troops into a disciplined force. By spring, the Continental Army was transformed, tougher, more skilled, and united.

06:14French support turned the rebellion into a world war. Britain now had to fight on many fronts. The French navy

06:20challenged British control of the seas. The Americans, strengthened by training and allies, were ready for the next

06:27phase. Valley Forge tested their spirit, but they emerged stronger. The war's momentum shifted. The Patriots were

06:35prepared for victory.

06:39The British shifted their focus south, hoping loyalists would help them win. They captured Savannah and

06:45Charleston, but controlling the south proved difficult. Guerrilla tactics by Patriots like Francis Marion frustrated

06:52the British. General Nathaniel Green wore down British forces with clever maneuvers. The British won battles but

06:58couldn't win the war. Cornwallis moved his army to Yorktown, Virginia, seeking a secure base. Washington saw his chance. He

07:05marched his army south, joined by the French. The French navy blocked Cornwallis' escape by sea. Cornwallis was trapped,

07:13surrounded on land and sea. The siege of Yorktown began. The final chapter of the war was unfolding. The British position was

07:21hopeless. The end of the revolution was near.

07:26The siege of Yorktown was a masterstroke of American and French cooperation. Bombarded and surrounded, Cornwallis

07:33surrendered on October 19, 1781. The British defeat signaled the end of the war. Peace talks began in Paris. In 1783,

07:42the Treaty of Paris recognized the United States as a free nation, granting vast territory. The struggle for

07:48independence was over, but building a nation was just beginning. The new country faced debt, division,

07:55and a weak government. The constitution created a stronger federal system, balancing power and

08:00protecting rights. The revolution's ideals, liberty, equality, self-government, inspired movements

08:06worldwide. Yet, its promise was incomplete. Slavery persisted and women lacked equal rights. These

08:13contradictions would fuel future struggles. Still, the revolution's principles provided a framework

08:18for progress. The fight for a more inclusive freedom would continue. The legacy of liberty endures.

The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783) | Full History & Key Battles Explained

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