Question: when did england declare war on the colonies
Answer: Date April 19 , 1775 -- September 3 , 1783 ( 8 years , 4 months and 15 days ) Ratification effective : May 12 , 1784 ( 9 years and 23 days ) Location Eastern North America , Caribbean Sea , Indian subcontinent , Central America , Europe , Africa , the Atlantic Ocean , and the Indian Ocean Result American - Allied victory : Peace of Paris British recognition of American independence End of the First British Empire British retention of Canada and Gibraltar Territorial changes Great Britain cedes to the United States the area east