In Assassin's Creed III, which historical event forms the central backdrop?

In Assassin's Creed III, the American Revolution forms the central historical backdrop.

The game follows Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor, through events in the Thirteen Colonies from the 1750s into the 1780s. Its story intersects with figures and episodes associated with the American Revolution, including George Washington, the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party and the Declaration of Independence.

The setting is broader than a single city. Boston and New York are major urban locations, while the Frontier connects settlements and wilderness areas. The narrative also includes Connor's Mohawk heritage and the consequences of the conflict for Indigenous communities, so it is not simply a conventional military retelling.

The French Revolution belongs chiefly to Assassin's Creed Unity, while the Russian Revolution appears in Assassin's Creed Chronicles: Russia. The Haitian Revolution is associated with Liberation's setting and historical themes. These nearby answers are plausible because the series repeatedly uses real revolutions as backdrops.