The American Revolution has been characterized politically as a united political uprising of the American colonies and militarily as a guerrilla campaign of colonists against the inflexible Britishmilitary establishment.

Daniel Marston argues that this belief, though widespread, is a misconception. He contends that the American Revolution, in reality, created deep political divisions in the population of the Thirteen Colonies, while militarily pitting veterans of the Seven Years' War against one another, in a conflict that combined guerrilla tactics and classic eighteenth century campaign techniques on both sides. The peace treaty of 1783 that brought an end to the war marked the formal beginning of the United States of America as an independent political entity.

The Osprey Guide To... series is a reworking of the popular Essential Histories series, now available as non-illustrated eBooks at a fantastic low price.

The maps and text remain the same, giving a strong historical overview of some of the most important conflicts and theatres of war from the ancient world through to modern times.

• The Seven Years War (Guide To...)
• The French-Indian War 1754-1760 (Guide To...)
• The Wars of the Roses 1455-1485 (Guide To...)
• The Thirty Years War 1618-1648 (Guide To...)
• The Napoleonic Wars (4): The Fall Of The French Empire 1813-1815 (Guide To...)