The Battles of Lexington and Concord<span>, fought on April 19, 1775, kicked off the American Revolutionary </span>War<span> (1775-83). Tensions had been building for many years between residents of the 13 American colonies and the British authorities, particularly in Massachusetts.</span>
The Declaration included the principles of John Locke. It also included the right to revolt against an unjust ruler, such as the social contract states. ... These two documents reflected some of the ideas of the Enlightenment thinkers, such as Locke's ideas of natural rights, and Rousseau's social contract.
Political and ethnic rivalries within the countries emerged after independence, due in large part to the poor drawing of the former colonies' borders, which were drawn by their former imperial rulers.
