The dictionary definition for the American Revolution is; "the war between Great Britain and its American colonies, 1775-83, by which the colonies won their independence." But this war meant so much more than this brief description and the American colonies won a lot more than just their freedom, they won their dignity and they won their right to have the power over their own lives. Without the Revolution America would not be the country it is today, it was one of the most influential wars of all times. Without the war America may have had, to this day, to pay taxes to the British Parliament and exist under their rule. .
There were many different events that led up to the start of the American Revolution; some believe that class and economic conflicts were the major cause of the war. However, the most widely believed cause was the political conflict between the American colonies and Britain. After the French and Indian war Britain imposed taxes on its American colonies, without the peoples consent, because the colonies were in debt and Britain needed to regain the revenue. So the British Parliament, having absolute, unchallenged rule over the colonies, imposed a series of taxes designed to raise revenues and help regain the 140 million pounds that was spent during the war. The stamp act of 1765 stated that every document that was printed in the American colonies had to have a stamp; the act also stated that every business owner was required to purchase stamps. This fueled many American citizens to begin questioning the power Britain had over them. After the stamp act was passed many more taxes were imposed including the townshend act, imposing taxes on imported goods and the sugar act, imposing taxes on sugar. The colonists became fed up very quickly with the English government and they coined the phrase "no taxation without representation." The colonists would not put up with it and they decided that no matter what the tax was on they needed to be consulted before they were taxed.