Final answer:
Although many on both sides of the American Revolution hoped for peace, tensions and preparations for conflict showed a growing anticipation of war. The Second Continental Congress's move towards declaring independence and the escalation at Lexington signaled that war was imminent despite attempts at reconciliation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The anticipation of conflict leading to the American Revolution was present on both sides to some degree. While many in Great Britain and the American colonies hoped for a peaceful resolution, the buildup of tensions and actions, such as the stockpiling of weapons by colonial militias and the British attempts to seize munitions and capture rebel leaders, suggests that a violent confrontation was becoming increasingly likely. Despite General Gage's efforts to diffuse the situation, his actions inadvertently accelerated the path to war at Lexington, where the first shots were fired. Additionally, the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia moved from considering reconciliation to declaring independence, further intensifying the revolutionary spirit.
The conflict was not only military but also brought social upheaval, affecting all demographics, including civilians, Black people both enslaved and free, women, and Native peoples. The British, hoping to quickly quell the rebellion, underestimated the colonists' resolve, culminating in significant British losses and their eventual surrender at Yorktown. The formal end of the war came with the ratification of the Treaty of Paris, marking the emergence of a new nation and democratic model.