In 1775 war began, and the stand made by the patriots at Lexington and
the fighting which followed at Concord and Bunker Hill showed that the
Americans were in earnest. The cry of the colonists had been, "No
taxation without representation"; now they had got beyond that, and
demanded, "No legislation without representation." But events moved so
fast that even this did not long suffice, and on July 4, 1776, the
colonies, in Congress assembled, solemnly declared themselves free and
independent.
As far back as the French war there was at least one man who foresaw
this declaration. After the English had taken Quebec (S545), an
eminent French statesman said of the American colonies with respect to
Great Britain, "They stand no longer in need of her protection; she
will call on them to contribute toward supporting the burdens they
have helped to bring on her; and they will answer by striking off all
dependence."[2]
[2] This was Vergennes; see Bancroft's "History of the United States."
This prophecy was now fulfilled. After the Americans had defeated
Burgoyne in 1777 the English ministry became alarmed; they declared
themselves ready to make terms; they offered to grant everything but
independence;[3] but they had opened their eyes to the facts too late,
and nothing short of independence would now satisfy the colonists.
Attempts were made to open negotiations with General Washington, but
the commander in chief declined to receive a letter from the English
Government addressed to him, not in his official capacity, but as
"George Washington, Esq.," and so the matter came to nothing.
[3] This was after France had recognized the independence of the
United States, 1778.
553. The Battle of Yorktown; the King acknowledges American
Independence, 1782.
The war against the rebellious states was never really popular in
England. From the outset great numbers refused to enlist to fight the
Americans, and spoke of the contest as the "King's War" to show that
the bulk of the English people did not encourage it. The struggle
went on with varying success through seven heavy years, until, with
the aid of the French, the Americans defeated Lord Cornwallis at
Yorktown in 1781.[1] By that battle France got her revenge for the
loss of Quebec in 1759 (S545), and America finally won the cause for
which she had spent so much life and treasure.
[1] It is pleasant to know that a hundred years later, in the autumn
of 1881, a number of English gentlemen were present at the centennial
celebration of the taking of Yorktown, to express their hearty good
will toward the nation which their ancestors had tried in vain to keep
a part of Great Britain.
George III could hold out no longer; on a foggy December morning in
1782, he entered the House of Lords, and with a faltering voice read a
paper in which he acknowledged the independence of the United States
of America. He closed his reading with the prayer that neither Great
Britain nor America might suffer from the separation; and he expressed
the hope that religion, language, interest, and affection might prove
an effectual bond of union between the two countries.
Eventually the separation proved "a mutual advantage, since it removed
to a great extent the arbitrary restrictions on trade, gave a new
impetus to commerce, and immensely increased the wealth of both
nations."[2]
[2] Goldwin Smith's lectures on "The Foundation of the American
Colonies." In general see "Lecky's American Revolution," and the
"Leading Facts of American History" or the "Student's American
History," in this series.