The American Revolution, which took place from 1775 to 1783, is significant for establishing the United States as an independent nation free from British colonial rule. It ignited ideas of democracy, self-governance, and individual rights, culminating in the Declaration of Independence in 1776. This event was not just a rebellion; it marked the emergence of a new political identity where the concepts of liberty and equality were championed. The Revolution influenced subsequent democratic movements around the world and laid foundational principles that would later be enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.