The American Revolution was one of the events which shaped the modern world. It has been celebrated as a struggle for liberty and the origin of the growth of the US as a great world power. Without underplaying the achievements of the Revolution, this book takes a critical look at the myths and legends that grew up about this key event. It also gives a voice to those who suffered from opposing the Revolution and whose stories are not always remembered. It investigates the nature of what was fundamentally a civil war and looks closely at whether the ideals of the Revolution were a reality for all those caught up in what was a deadly and violent conflict. It challenges the reputation of some leading figures and the usual way that dramatic events have been portrayed, and takes a hard look at some accepted ideas about the colonial past. As well as explaining the causes and course of the war of independence, the book considers its impact on different groups, including women, Black Americans and native Americans. There are some surprising and sometimes disturbing events here, but these add to a picture of a vibrant and exciting period of history. AUTHOR: Mike Wells read History at St Catherine's College, Oxford. He is the author of over thirty textbooks for advanced-level study on various aspects of nineteenth- and twentieth-century history, including the French Revolution and Napoleon, and a biography of Bismarck. He has also written about the history of warfare and aspects of American history, both of the USA and Latin America. The companion volume to this book, The Real Story of the French Revolution, was published in 2024. He taught and examined history for many years and has lectured in the UK and in many different countries. Apart from history, his other passion is opera, and his play about the composer Donizetti has been performed in Italy. 30 b/w illustrations