POP QUIZ: The Revolutionary War
Even though the U.S. did not officially declare independence from Great Britain until July 4, 1776, the Revolutionary War began with the Battle of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775. Approximately how many years elapsed before the Treaty of Paris was signed, which officially ended the war?
- 1 year
- 2 years
- 3 years
- 4 years
- 5 years
- 6 years
- 7 years
- 8 years
- 9 years
- 10 years
Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown in September, 1781, effectively ending the war… but the Treaty of Paris wasn’t signed until September 3, 1783, so the Revolutionary War lasted approximately 8 and one-half years.
Freedom did not come come quick, easy, or cheap. It should be remembered that 15-20% of the people were “loyalists” and many fought on the side of the British Crown.
We are not certain how many irregular (militia) soldiers gave their lives in the Revolutionary War (perhaps 20,000), but we do know 4,435 U.S. military personnel (regulars) died in battle, which was at a time when the population was about 4 million.
The United States incurred substantial debt: it spent $37 million at the national level plus $114 million by the states, supported by loans from France, the Netherlands, from Americans, and the inflationary issuance of paper money (which became “not worth a Continental“). The U.S. finally resolved its debt problem in the 1790s.
