1775–1783Reputable sourceWell documented
The Loss of America
On the timeline · around 1775–1783 ·
What happened
Britain's thirteen American colonies, resentful of taxation without representation, rose in revolt. After eight years of war — and French intervention on the American side — Britain recognized the independence of the United States at the Treaty of Paris in 1783, losing the most populous part of its empire.
Why it matters
The loss of America was the great humiliation of the First British Empire. Yet Britain recovered and turned east and south, building an even larger 'Second Empire' in India, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. American Revolution · Reputable source
Related timelines
- The American Revolution → — The Thirteen Colonies win their independence