The Struggle for Independence - The Revolutionary War Period 1764 to 1783

In the years following the Seven Years War, new taxes imposed on the colonies helped ignite resistance, setting the stage for a growing movement toward independence. From the "shot heard 'round the world" in 1775 until the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, colonial life was upended by the Revolution and its aftermath. Manufactured goods became scarcer, and once again "homemade" was the norm. Many women and children lived in military camps, as necessity found them following husbands and fathers off to war. Soldiers hammered musket balls into dice, toys were made from old coins, and children practiced for the militia. Other families tightened their belts and made do as best they could.

We do not interpret Native American history, which extends back for centuries before the arrival of the European colonists. We believe that the histories and cultural traditions of Indigenous peoples are best shared by the Nations and communities to whom they belong, and we encourage visitors to seek out those voices and resources directly.

More to Explore
National Park Service: Timeline of the Revolution
National Archives - America's Founding Documents
Colonial Williamsburg
National Museum of African American History and Culture
National Museum of American History
National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian)