prelude to war library

Prior to the Revolutionary War, tensions between the British government and the American colonies grew steadily as talk of revolution spread. In this section, you can learn about the events that led up to the start of the Revolutionary War.

Featured Article: What happened to the two other men on Paul Revere's ride?

Did you know that two other men accompanied Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride? Find out who these men were and which one actually made it to Concord. See more »

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What happened to the two other men on Paul Revere's ride?

Did you know that two other men accompanied Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride? Find out who these men were and which one actually made it to Concord.

Boston Tea Party

Boston Tea Party, in United States history, the dumping of three cargoes of tea in Massachusetts Bay on December 16, 1773, shortly before the American Revolution.

Committees of Correspondence

Committees of Correspondence, patriot groups formed in the American colonies before the Revolution.

Continental Congress

Continental Congress, originally an intercolonial conference called to propose measures to obtain redress from the British Parliament for its violations of colonial rights immediately before the American Revolution; later, it became the central government of the United States.