The American Revolutionary War was a conflict between the thirteen American colonies and Great Britain from 1775 to 1783. The colonies sought independence from British rule, leading to a war that involved significant battles such as the Battle of Bunker Hill and the Siege of Yorktown. The war was fueled by issues like taxation without representation and the desire for self-governance. Ultimately, the colonies emerged victorious, resulting in the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which recognized the United States as an independent nation.