The colonies were able to achieve their independence through the Revolutionary War. The Continental Army was not successful during the early years of the war; however, Washington made sure that his army was never in a position to be captured entirely. The colonial army was able to take advantage of shorter supply lines, as the British had to rely on transatlantic shipping. American diplomats courted Spanish, French, and Dutch assistance; the most influential of these potential allies were the French, who joined the Americans after the Battle of Saratoga in 1777. The French did this not out of love for the colonists but rather to see Britain fail in the New World.

The colonists were also able to clearly state their wartime goals. The colonists desired independence and mentioned "inalienable rights" such as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in their Declaration of Independence. This, combined with poor British strategy in the Southern colonies, led to more patriots joining the independence movement. By the end of the war, many in Britain desired to see the colonists leave, as the war was a drain on the British treasury. By outlasting the British, the colonists were able to win their war for independence.

The American colonies achieved their goal of independence through the Revolutionary War.  In doing so, the colonies had to pull together and support the rebel army.  In addition, they had to gain the support of the French, who could provide them with some of the materiel and money that they needed in order to defeat the British.  Finally, the Americans had to hold out long enough for the British to give up the fight.  The colonies, then, got their independence by pulling together well enough to support the war, by enlisting French help, and by fighting well enough and long enough to force the British to give up.