What Country Did We Fight During the Revolutionary War?

The War for American Independence is a subject taught in most history classes throughout the United States, so it’s natural to ask “what country did we fight during the Revolutionary War?”  From 1775 to 1783, America fought the Kingdom of Great Britain.  While some people believe the country fought was simply England, and still others say the United Kingdom, neither of these is technically correct. 

Due to governmental changes in the island of Great Britain, the nation became the United Kingdom of Great Britain shortly after the Revolutionary War.  Most people intuitively know, however, the group to which the cries of “the British are coming!” referred.  Here’s a bitmore information about the country we fought in the revolution, and why the revolution even occurred.

What’s the Difference Between the Names of the British? 

When someone asks what country did we fight during the Revolutionary War, they are often curious about what Great Britain was called at the time of the war.  In fact, the island of Great Britain has often been at political odds with itself due to several distinct regions—Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and England. 

Throughout the history of the island, these different peoples have shared similarities (often a monarch that reigned over the combined area of the island), but they were politically separate. The Kingdom of England (including Wales) and the Kingdom of Scotland joined together to form the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, which was the group that fought the American colonists. What is now known simply as “Great Britain” came about due to another few political changes.  In 1798, the Irish rebelled against the Kingdom of Britain. The revolution was suppressed by the British, and in 1801, due to a unification act of Parliament, the Kingdom of Ireland was assumed as an official part of the Kingdom of England. 

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland remained the name in official use until the 1920s, when the Republic of Ireland split from England. The United Kingdom now consists of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

Why Was the Revolution Fought?

The American Revolution was fought due to a number of growing concerns about British influence in the American colonies.  First and foremost, the colonists were outraged that, while taxes continued to be leveled against them, they lacked direct representation in Parliament. Without the ability to protect their rights and Englishmen, they felt that they were being abused by the Kingdom of Britain.

Various acts of the British Parliament continued to fly in the face of the colonists’ Rights of Englishmen, and the rebellion began to grow. By the 1770s, it was clear to most that the situation would come to a head. When the Revolution finally began, it was fought with the purpose of creating a brand new nation. The colonists refused to continue as loyal subjects to the British Crown and now sought independence from Great Britain. By this point, the colonists were beyond negotiating with King George III over representation and rights.

What Happened in the Revolutionary War?

America’s war for independence was long and arduous for both sides. Between 1775 and 1781, when the British army surrendered at Yorktown, thousands of lives had been claimed on either side. The American Revolution was fought first in what would become the Northeastern United States, but ultimately extended throughout the world. Battles were fought along the Gulf Coast, in the West Indies, and as far as the Indian subcontinent. As America’s military might proved formidable, even against the British Navy, it became clear that the colonists had gained the upper hand.

In 1781, a battle was fought at Yorktown that combined American and French armies in a sustained attack against British strongholds. General Cornwallis, one of the leading British generals, finally surrendered in October. Although fighting would continue for two more years, America had gained its independence. The question “what country did we fight during the Revolutionary War” would be remembered instead as “which country did we defeat.”