Age of revolutions and independence

Published: July 13, 2026 · Updated: July 13, 2026

1775–1867

Between 1775 and 1867 the colonial order gave way to independent nations. The American Revolution, Mexican independence, and the Canadian Confederation reshaped the map of the continent.

Overview

The Thirteen Colonies declared independence in 1776 and secured it in 1783, founding the United States under a new federal constitution in 1787. Spanish America then fractured, and Mexico won independence in 1821, while British North America remained under the Crown.

Key developments

The United States expanded westward through the Louisiana Purchase and beyond, displacing Indigenous nations, and the U.S.–Mexican War (1846–1848) transferred vast territories to the United States. Slavery divided the American republic and culminated in the Civil War (1861–1865) and the abolition of slavery.

End and transition

In 1867 the British North America Act united several colonies into the Dominion of Canada, and the modern trio of Mexico, the United States, and Canada had taken shape. Industrialization and further expansion would define the era that followed.

Events

People

Benjamin Franklin 1706–1790
George Washington 1732–1799
Miguel Hidalgo 1753–1811
Benito Juárez 1806–1872

Organizations

Viceroyalty of New Spain 1535–1821