The American Revolution took place between 1775 until 1783. Also known as the Revolutionary War as well as the U.S. War of Independence, the war came about from growing tensions between residents of Great Britain’s 13 colonies situated in North America and the colonial government that represented the British crown. A fight between British troops and colonial militiamen in Lexington and Concord back in April 1775 started the armed conflict. When it was finally summer, the rebels were waging an all out war to claim their independence. France then entered the American Revolution to side with the colonists in 1778. This move by France turned what had initially been a civil war into an international conflict. After French officials helped the Continental Army defeat the British and have them surrender at Yorktown, Virginia in 1781, the Americans had won their independence. The fighting formally ended two years later after the signing of the Treaty of Paris 1783. Here are 10 more things you didn’t know about the Revolutionary War:

Fact 1: The experienced British army was gunning down the Americans fast. Geroge Washington barely had an army left. About 25,000 Americans died on the battle field, while 9,000 other suffered from serious injuries. Contrary to popular belief, George Washington’s dentures weren’t made out of wood! They were made from hippopotamus ivory and cow’s teeth, held together by metal springs.

Fact 2: It was the Battle of Saratoga that gave the Americans their first ever taste of victory. Their triumph during this battle signaled the beginning of Britain’s downfall.

Fact 3: Benjamin Franklin was able to receive foreign support from his connections in France, Spain, and the Netherlands. This furthered the decline of British power.

Fact 4: One-third of Americans actually supported the colonial rule and supported the King. They thought of themselves as Loyalists and even went as far as fleeing to Canada, England, and the Bahamas when the war was coming to an end.

Fact 5: Although the Cornwallis had surrendered to the Americans in Yorktown back in 1781, all the hatred and fighting did not cease until two years later when the Treaty of Paris was signed. The battles finally stopped in 1783.

Fact 6: Those who supported the Americans were called Patriots, while those who rooted for the Britons were called Loyalists. It was common practice for the Patriots to soak the captured Britons in tar and coat them in feathers, while the Daughters of Liberty went for a much sweeter route and opted to use molasses and flowers instead.

Fact 7: During 1782, a woman by the name of Deborah Sampson went under the disguise of a man and called herself Robert Shurtlieff Sampson after her deceased brother. She enlisted herself under the Fourth Massachusetts Regiment of the Continental Army and served for a year until she got injured in battle. When she sought for medical treatment the doctor discovered her secret. She was discharged with full honors.

Fact 8: The first man that was shot during the Boston Massacre was an African American by the name of Crispus Attucks. He went on to become the first martyr of the American Revolution, and even became the icon of anti-slavery movements during the 18^th century.

Fact 9: A Boston silversmith by the name of Paul Revere was famous for sounding the alarm that signaled the British invasion. Accompanied by 40 other men, they rode on horseback at the dead of night in order to alert the American troops.

Fact 10: 2 years later, a colonel’s daughter named Sybil Ludington rode the 40 miles all by herself from 9pm until dawn to inform New York militia that the red coats were burning down Danbury, Connecticut. She was only 16 years old.