"No Taxation Without Representation"
Angered by British taxes imposed without their consent, 13 American colonies revolted against the world's most powerful empire. In 1776, they adopted the Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson. It famously asserted "unalienable Rights" to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
Against all odds, the colonists won. The American Revolution was unique because it didn't just change rulers; it created a new type of nation based on Enlightenment ideals—a Constitutional Republic where the law is king. It inspired democratic movements globally, including the French Revolution.