In this deck, we'll explore the dramatic final years of British America, from 1765 to 1783. You'll learn how growing opposition to British policies, like the Stamp Act, exploded into open rebellion. We'll cover the key events of the American War of Independence, from the Declaration of Independence to the decisive victory at Yorktown. Finally, we'll analyse the consequences of the war, not just for the new United States, but for Loyalists, Indigenous peoples, and the institution of slavery.

The story begins after the French and Indian War. Britain was victorious but had a huge war debt. The British government believed the American colonists should help pay for the war, which had been fought partly to protect them. This led to a series of new taxes, which sparked outrage in the colonies. The colonists' main argument was not about the cost, but the principle: they had no representatives in the British Parliament, so Parliament had no right to tax them.

The first major tax to cause widespread anger was the Stamp Act of 1765. This law required colonists to pay a tax on almost all printed materials, from legal documents and newspapers to playing cards. The item had to carry an official stamp to show the tax had been paid. This affected everyone, especially influential people like lawyers and printers, and led to organised resistance.

In response to the Stamp Act, a secret society called the Sons of Liberty was formed. Led by figures like Samuel Adams, they used protests, intimidation, and sometimes violence to oppose British policies. They were instrumental in organising boycotts of British goods and forcing stamp distributors to resign. Their actions showed that colonial opposition was becoming organised and radical.