Historical independence

History: United States

From the 1776 Declaration of Independence to Great Britain's formal recognition of American independence in the 1783 Treaty of Paris.

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The 1776 declaration

The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776, declaring "that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States."[1] Great Britain did not recognise the declaration, and the Revolutionary War followed.

The Revolutionary War

Fighting between American and British forces, begun in April 1775, continued through the war until 1783. Published casualty figures vary widely: one tally cites roughly 6,800 American combat deaths and 43,633 British military deaths, with total estimates across all sides reaching into the tens of thousands; no single figure is treated as authoritative.[2]

· Conflict episode

American Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

Fighting between American and British forces from 1775 to 1783 caused a disputed toll of casualties, including roughly 6,800 American combat deaths, about 17,000 further American deaths from disease, and 43,633 British military deaths.

The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation, submitted to the states on 15 November 1777, were ratified by all thirteen states when Maryland approved them on 1 March 1781, taking effect the same day as the first US constitution.[3]

· Constitutional change

Articles of Confederation ratified, 1781

The Articles of Confederation, drafted and submitted to the states on 15 November 1777, were ratified by all thirteen states when Maryland approved them on 1 March 1781, taking effect the same day as the first US constitution.

The Treaty of Paris

Great Britain formally acknowledged American independence in the Treaty of Paris, signed 3 September 1783: "His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States ... to be free sovereign and independent states."[4]

· Agreement

Treaty of Paris, 1783

Great Britain formally acknowledged the independence of the United States in the Treaty of Paris, signed 3 September 1783, ending the Revolutionary War.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on 4 July 1776. Its opening read: "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another..." Its concluding operative paragraph stated: "We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled...do...solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States."

    • Continental Congress, Declaration of Independence: A Transcription (National Archives and Records Administration, 4 July 1776) link, declaration text. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: Fighting between American and British forces began in April 1775 and continued through the war for independence until 1783. Published casualty figures vary: one tally cites roughly 6,800 American combat deaths and about 17,000 further American deaths from disease (totalling roughly 25,000 US military deaths), alongside 43,633 British military deaths, 7,774 German auxiliary deaths, and an estimated 25,000 civilian deaths; some sources cite American deaths as high as 70,000, likely reflecting overlapping counts. No single figure is treated as authoritative.

  3. 3.

    Claim: The Articles of Confederation were drafted and submitted to the states for ratification on 15 November 1777. Ratification was delayed for nearly four years by a dispute between Virginia and Maryland over claims to western land; Maryland's approval on 1 March 1781 completed ratification by all thirteen states, and the Articles took effect the same day as the first constitution of the United States.

    • The Articles of Confederation are ratified after nearly four years (History.com) link, article text. Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: The Treaty of Paris, signed 3 September 1783, provided in Article 1: "His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz., New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and independent states, that he treats with them as such, and for himself, his heirs, and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety, and territorial rights of the same and every part thereof."

    • Kingdom of Great Britain and United States of America, The Paris Peace Treaty of September 30, 1783 (Avalon Project, Yale Law School, 3 September 1783) link, Article 1. Government perspective or primary official source Source record

Source note

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Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/united-states/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.