The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence,[1] was a war between Great Britain; after 1778 the French joined the war against Britain, as did the Netherlands and Spain later, making it a global war. In addition many American Indians were involved, mostly on the British side. After military successes in 1775-76, the Americans declared their independence as the United States of America on July 4, 1776. The war was the culmination of the American Revolution, a colonial struggle to uphold traditional rights.
