How did the united states assert itself as a independent nation?

The Revolutionary War with Britain after British colonists were already in the US, sent by the British. Basically, they were being taxed on things like Molasses and Tea. They didn't want taxation from a country in which they had no representation in government. This was the reason for the Boston Tea Party. Then of course they formed their own independent country once they were free from Britain. Just a basic answer, I forgot a lot of US history.