In April 1775, a decade of simmering tension between the government of Great Britain and inhabitants of 13 colonies that Britain had established in North America erupted into a full-fledged conflict. On July 4, 1776, colonial representatives declared that the colonies would henceforth be independent of British rule. The Declaration of Independence was a landmark event in American history, but many hard years of fighting and sacrifice lay ahead before the United States would truly become free. This book in the MAJOR U.S. HISTORICAL WARS series examines the events that led up to the American Revolution. It discusses the political and military strategies that colonial and British leaders employed, and provides information about key people, battles, and events. The American patriots' successful revolution inspired people in other places, including France and throughout Latin America, to fight for their own independence against tyrannical rulers. Each title in this series contains color photos, maps, chronology and back matter including: an index, further reading lists for books and internet resources, and a series glossary. Mason Crest's editorial team has placed Key Icons to Look for throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are then used in the prose throughout that chapter, and are emboldened, so that the reader is able to reference back to the definitions- building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. A Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter contains terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.