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American Revolution Countries Involved

  • Many Caribbean islands were valuable for the income from their sugar plantations and also strategically located between the colonies and Great Britain. As such, while these islands rarely entered the war directly (most were ruled by England or France), they often became important battlegrounds and were fought over as fiercely as the American mainland.
  • While the American Revolution was a fight for independence for the American colonies, it was also the continuation of a larger dispute over trade alliances (and global wealth potential) between Great Britain, France, Spain, and the Netherlands (the Dutch). These tensions had already resulted in a previous war, the Seven Years War (1756-1763) and would lead to the concurrent Anglo-Mysore Wars and Anglo-French War (1778–1783). In fact, while the American/British conflict ended in 1781, battles in India (which both Britain and France sought to control) would continue for another two years.
Country
Countries Role
Additional Notes
BahamasBattleground
British territory often invaded by the United States and Spain.
BarbadosBattleground
British territory known for its sugar plantations.
DominicaBattleground
British territory often invaded by France.
FranceDirect American Ally
Shipped supplies to Americans as early as 1775. Entered the war as an American ally in 1778, arguabl...
GermanyIndirect British Ally
Several states, territories, or other governments in what is now Germany acted as allies of Great Br...
GuadeloupeBattleground
French territory invaded by the British.
GuyanaBattleground
Demerara was a Dutch colony in what is now Guyana.
HaitiBattleground
Saint-Domingue was a French colony in what is now Haiti.
HondurasBattleground
Spanish territory.
IndiaIndirect American Ally
When the British captured part of India's Kingdom of Mysore in response to France becoming an Americ...
JamaicaIndirect American Ally
Jamaica was one of a handful of Caribbean islands used by the Americans and their allies to sneak gu...
MartiniqueBattleground
French territory often invaded by the British.
MontserratBattleground
British territory known for its sugar plantations.
NetherlandsIndirect American Ally
Dutch merchants shipped gunpowder and other supplies to the Americans as early as 1774, primarily by...
SpainIndirect American Ally
Spain joined the war as an ally to France, though they did not ally directly with the American colon...
United KingdomMain (British)
As Great Britain.
United StatesMain (American)
While the thirteen American colonies were one of two main protagonists in the war, it should also be...

Which countries were involved in the American Revolution?

Great Britain, France, Spain, Mysore, The Dutch Republic, and Hanover were all countries in the American Revolution, but the 13 Colonies and Native American groups were also involved in the war.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources