American Revolutionary War Facts

Events Leading to the American Revolution

The Boston Tea Party
The Boston Tea Party

Introduction

It is April 19, 1775 and standing across the village common from each other in Lexington Massachusetts British soldiers and American colonist have their rifles pointed at each other; they are about to fire the first shots of the American Revolution. How did the tensions between Great Britain and its once loyal American colonies get to this point?

Click here for a great selection of Amazon.com books about the events leading up to the American Revolution.

In this section of American Revolutionary War Facts you will find a list of interesting facts, written for kids and adults, about the important events leading to the American Revolution. There is a short description of each of these events. You will see how a series of events that began after the end of the French and Indian War in 1763 gradually led to open warfare which resulted in independence for the Americans. The French and Indian War, fought between Britain and the French along with their Indian allies, from 1754 to 1763 left England deeply in debt. Great Britain won the war but now needed to raise revenue to pay its war debt. This would lead them to start levying taxes on the American colonies. The levying of these taxes were some of the main events that led up to the war as you will see in the list below. "No taxation without representation" was the main rallying cry of the rebellion. The end of the French and Indian War and the resulting removal of French forces from much of North America led to the colonist not depending as much on Great Britain for protection. Beyond actual events that caused the American Revolution there were other factors that played a role. The information below lists factors that led to the war followed by a timeline of some of the main events that led to the American War for Independence.

List of Factors Leading to the American Revolution

List of Events Leading to the American Revolution