Revision Lesson 11 Television Day:
The American War of Independence
The American colonists often quarrelled with the British Government. They had to buy British goods and they had to pay taxes to Britain. In 1767 Britain put customs duty on many goods, such as tea. The Government should have known this would cause trouble.
In 1773 some Americans dressed as Red Indians went on to some British ships in Boston and threw £18,000 worth of tea into the sea. This was the famous "Boston Tea Party". The British Government closed the port of Boston. Then the colonists got ready for war and George Washington became the commander of their army.
During the war, on 4th July 1776, the American Congress drew up the Declaration of Independence. Later, in 1778, France joined the war against Britain and so did Spain in 1779. The British fleet surrendered in 1781 and the Government did not continue the war. It had to recognize the independence of the new United States of America. In 1789 George Washington became the first president of the country.