The major conflict leading to the independence of the thirteen American colonies was the American Revolutionary War, fought from 1775 to 1783. Tensions escalated due to British taxation without representation, restrictive policies, and increasing colonial dissatisfaction with British rule. Key events, like the Boston Tea Party and the Intolerable Acts, fueled resistance and calls for independence. Influential documents such as the Declaration of Independence in 1776 articulated the colonies' desire for self-governance. The war concluded with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, recognizing the sovereignty of the United States, fundamentally altering the political landscape in North America and inspiring other revolutionary movements.