Jamestown, Virginia was the first colony to be founded. Tensions arose between the colonies and the colonial government, leading to the American War of Independence. The American Revolution was the war for independence from Great Britain. Britain had four times the population, had an experienced military, and was the world's leading manufacturer. In April 1775, the first shots started the war (Brands p. 130). A British commander named General Thomas Gage was ordered to arrest several Patriot leaders who were in Lexington. General Gage thought that sending his troops at night to surprise attack the Americans was a good strategy, except that the Americans were ready and waiting for them. Once the bloodshed was over, the Americans were unsure whether they wanted to immediately declare