Some accounts of the American Revolution are oversimplified, painting the Founding Fathers as freedom fighters at odds with the unjust British Empire. However, the causes of the war were many and began years before the first shot rang out in 1775. This book, a must for any social studies collection, presents a comprehensive look at the events before, during, and after the War for Independence. From the founding of the colonies to the ratification of the US Constitution, readers examine the most significant moments of early American history. They'll also consider the effects the revolution had on other struggling nations.