The Boston Tea Party

On December 16, 1773, a group of colonists known as the "Boston Boys" staged a dramatic protest that would become known as the Boston Tea Party.

Definition: The Boston Tea Party was an act of protest in which American colonists destroyed an entire shipment of tea sent by the East India Company in defiance of the Tea Act of 1773.

Disguised as Native Americans, the protesters boarded ships in Boston Harbor and threw 342 chests of British tea into the water. This act of defiance resulted in significant financial damage to Great Britain, estimated at over 1 million euros in today's currency.

Highlight: The Boston Tea Party was a pivotal event that escalated tensions between the colonies and Great Britain, leading to more severe measures by the British government.

The British response to this act of rebellion was harsh, implementing punitive measures that would further alienate the colonists and push them towards revolution.

The Path to Independence

The year 1775 marked a crucial turning point in the relationship between the American colonies and Great Britain. In Philadelphia, representatives from the 13 colonies gathered for what would become known as the First Continental Congress. This meeting had two primary outcomes:

1. The formation of an army to oppose the British forces.
2. The election of George Washington as the commander of the American Army.

Highlight: The First Continental Congress was a significant step towards unified colonial action against British rule.

The following year, 1776, saw an even more momentous event: the Second Continental Congress and the Declaration of Independence. This document, adopted on July 4, 1776, established several key principles:

• It asserted that all men possess inalienable rights.
• It formally declared the separation of the colonies from Great Britain.

Quote: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

This declaration effectively marked the birth of the United States as an independent nation, setting the stage for the Rivoluzione americana and the ensuing war for independence.

The Treaty of Versailles and American Independence

The American War of Independence officially concluded with the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. This treaty marked a significant milestone in the Rivoluzione americana and in world history.

Key points of the Treaty of Versailles:

1. It formally ended the war between Great Britain and its former colonies.
2. It recognized the independence of the American colonies, now the United States of America.
3. It established peace between the newly formed nation and its former ruler.

Highlight: The Treaty of Versailles was a landmark document that officially recognized the United States as a sovereign nation on the world stage.

The treaty's text, written in elaborate script, begins with the phrase "In the Name of the most Holy & undivided Trinity," reflecting the formal and solemn nature of the agreement. This document marked the successful conclusion of the Rivoluzione americana and the birth of a new nation.