The Appalachian Mountains played a significant role during the American Revolution as a frontier boundary and the site of key conflicts.

During the 18th century, the Appalachian Mountains served as a natural boundary between the British-controlled colonies and the western frontier. The Proclamation of 1763, issued by the British, restricted colonial expansion beyond the Appalachians, creating tension with settlers eager to move westward. The mountains also hosted significant Revolutionary War activities, including battles such as the Battle of Kings Mountain (1780) in South Carolina, where Appalachian frontiersmen defeated Loyalist forces. These events underscored the strategic importance of the Appalachians during the revolution, both as a geographic landmark and as a region populated by settlers who played a crucial role in the war effort.