The War for Independence (1446)

Concord [kən'ko:d] – Конкорд

Lensington ['lensiŋtən] – Ленсингтон

Declaration of Independence – Декларация независимости

Saratoga [,sa:rə'to:gə] – Саратога

The War for Independence of the American colonies began with a victorious battle of colonists against British troops in April 1775 at Concord and at Lensington not far from Boston. But the war lasted for eight years, from 1775 to 1783.

On July 4, 1776 the Second Continental Congress declared the united colonies to be independent of Great Britain. The new state was called the United States of America and July, 4 became its national holiday. The Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence proclaiming the equality of all people, their right to "life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness". Thomas Jefferson, a representative of the revolutionary-democratic wing of the "patriots", as supporters of the revolution called themselves, was the author of the Declaration. George Washington was commander-in-chief of the North American army and he did very much for the victory of the colonists.

The battle at Saratoga in 1777, when the Americans forced a large British army to capitulate, was a turning point in the long, hard War of Independence. The Americans were supported by France, Britain's hereditary enemy. In 1783 Britain finally and formally recognized American independence.

The American Revolution did away with the heritage of feudalism, cleared the way for the development of capitalism in trade, industry and agriculture. The American Revolution did not solve a number of problems connected with the bourgeois development of the United States, the most important one being the abolition of slavery. However it had a very progressive international meaning in its time.

After the end of the War for Independence in 1783, 13 states were formed and they chose George Washington as their first President.

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