The American Revolution was more than a war for independence—it was a bold experiment that reshaped the world. TIME: 1776 revisits the pivotal events, ideas, and individuals that gave rise to a nation, offering a vivid and layered look at the fight for freedom and the birth of the United States. This special edition traces the revolutionary journey across three defining periods: the mounting unrest that sparked rebellion, the bold declaration that changed everything, and the long, hard struggle to secure liberty. Along the way, readers explore the roles of spies, soldiers, political thinkers, and unlikely heroes, including Paul Revere’s midnight ride and the international alliances that helped determine the war’s outcome. Richly reported and deeply researched, this issue also examines the legacy of America’s founding, including its contradictions—such as the persistence of enslavement—and the efforts to preserve the nation’s heritage today. With compelling storytelling and essential historical context, 1776 offers a powerful reflection on the ideals that shaped the United States and that continue to define it.
TIME 1776
The Birth of an Idea • HOW THE EVENTS OF 1776 AND THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM SPREAD AROUND THE WORLD.
CHRONOLOGY OF INDEPENDENCE • With their rights slowly being taken away, America’s once loyal British subjects became radicalized and fought for freedom.
1763 —1775 The Road to Revolution • As Britain celebrated its success in the French and Indian War, it needed a way to pay for it. Parliament taxed the 13 colonies, and Americans began to question their place in the empire.
From Loyalists to Revolutionaries • BRITISH MISSTEPS SET THE COLONISTS ON THEIR FATEFUL PATH TO INDEPENDENCE.
A SPY IN THE HOUSE OF LIBERTY • A seemingly loyal revolutionary at the Green Dragon Tavern proved a traitor to the cause.
America’s Last King Wasn’t the Crazy Tyrant
REVOLUTIONARY PERSONALITIES • The cause of liberty divided those in the colonies.
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere • OVER THE COURSE OF ONE LATE NIGHT AND EARLY MORNING, THE FATE OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WAS FOREVER CHANGED.
1775 — 1777 Declaring Freedom • After a shot was heard ’round the world, delegates gathered in Philadelphia to form a new nation. The struggle for liberty proved hard.
Proclaiming and Fighting for a New Nation • AMERICA DECLARED ITS INDEPENDENCE, AND A SMALL ARMY UNDER GEORGE WASHINGTON ORGANIZED AS IT TOOK ON THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE ON EARTH.
Free to Be Happy • THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE ENSHRINED THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AS EVERYONE’S RIGHT. BUT THE FOUNDERS HAD IN MIND SOMETHING MORE THAN BLISS.
FAREWELL TO THE KING • Five days after the Declaration was adopted, New Yorkers pulled down a gold-plated statue of George III and melted it into bullets.
What the British Thought of American Independence • WHEN NEWS REACHED ENGLAND, THE ATMOSPHERE WAS FAR FROM CELEBRATORY.
George Washington: First and Foremost • REVERED FOR HIS BATTLEFIELD HEROICS AND UNASSAILABLE INTEGRITY, WASHINGTON WAS THE NASCENT NATION’S INDISPENSABLE MAN.
A MULTI-NATION FIGHT • The war drew people from near and far.
THE MUNITIONS TRADE • The Continental Army desperately needed weaponry in its battle with the British juggernaut.
The Army’s Four Horsemen • DURING HIS FIRST YEAR OF COMMAND, GENERAL WASHINGTON HAD BEEN EVALUATING HIS CHIEF OFFICERS, AND AS THE REVOLUTION BEGAN, HE HAD FOUR NOTABLE MILITARY LEADERS.
BEYOND THE WILDERNESS • As the fighting went on in the East, Spanish colonists were settling on the Pacific coast.
Reenacting the Revolution • WEEKEND WARRIORS PAY TRIBUTE TO THOSE WHO FOUGHT BY REENACTING BATTLES AND EDUCATING THE PUBLIC.
1778 —1783 The World Turned Upside...