George Washington once said, “Only virtuous people are capable of freedom.” As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have a greater need for masters. England took advantage of its colonies and attempted to impose unjust policies. By 1775, the political mistreatment had to stop and the United States had to separate from Great Britain in order to successfully develop as a country. The American Revolution changed world history. To understand the significance of the American Revolution, it is necessary to understand antebellum America, the cause of the war, the mentality of Britain, the mentality of the United States, the economy, the important events and how the war ended. The French and Indian War devastated the country. American land. The war was expensive, putting England in debt. The Board of Trade, at the request of British merchants, considered providing assistance in this matter. Americans had a difficult life in the colonies. The settlers would face savage, hate-motivated mobs, crop failures, and sudden deaths. American colonists believed England to be feudal, tyrannical, and reactionary. However, Europeans view England as a savage, upstart race, notable for its revolutions and pathological embrace of liberty. Compared to Britain, most Americans were poor and scrapped to survive. The Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, the Coercive Acts and the Townshend Act were various means used by the British to force the colonists to submit and repay their debts (Lancaster). The writs of assistance gave the British the opportunity to invade a colonial home with a virtually blank search warrant (Lancaster). All fiscal control of local governments and courts has been handed over to nepotistic friends of the British government. The colonies were eventually led by a few influential...... middle of paper ......fred A.Knopf.Colonies Move Toward Open Rebellion, The 1773-1774. (nd). Retrieved from the Library of Congress database. Cook, F. (1959). The American Revolution. New York, NY: Golden Press. Ferguson, E. J. (1974). The American Revolution. A general history, 1763-1790. Homewood, IL: The Dorsey Press. Ferling, J. (January 2010). Myths of the American Revolution. Smithsonian Magazine. First blows of war, 1775. (nd). Retrieved from the Library of Congress database. George Washington to Robert Stewart, 1763-1766. (nd). Retrieved from the Library of Congress database. Lancaster, B. and Plumb, J.H. (n.d.). Book of the Revolution (6th ed.). New York, NY: American Heritage Publishing.Overview. (nd). Retrieved from the Library of Congress database. Surrender of Lord Cornwallis. (nd). Retrieved from Library of Congress database.