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French allies.
The French had secretely sent weapons to the Patriots since early 1776. After Saratoga victory, the French begun to trust the American army and agreed to support the Revolution. -
Middle States
The British retreated from Boston, moving the war to the Middle States. Their plan was to stop the rebellion by isolating New England, the British then decided to seize New York City. -
The largest British force
General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe, joined forces on Staten Island and sailed to New York harbor in the summer of 1776. With 32,000 soldiers, and mercenaries ( Hessians). -
American defeat in New York
Washington led 23,000 men to defend New York, but he was outnumbered. His troops weren't trained and had poor equipment. The battle ended in late August and as a result the Americans lost. -
Michael Graham's description
Michael Graham, a Continental Army volunteer decided to describe the defeat in New York. In the description Graham said that it was hard to describe the confusion and horror of the scene. He said that there were men running everywhere and he couldn't understand what was happening. Michael wondered how did their troops get surrounded until he realized there was a road across the ridge above Flatbush that wasn't occupied by the Americans. -
From Delaware River to Pennsylvania
The British had pushed the Continental Army across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. Most of Washington's men had been deserted or killed. -
Battle of Trenton.
On Christmas night, Washington let 2,400 men in rowboats across the Delaware River. The men then marched nine miles until they finally got to Trenton, New Jersey, town populated by Hessians. The Hessians had drunk too much rum the night before and were still sleeping it off. In a surprise attack the Americans killed 30 of the enemy, took 918 captives and six Hessian cannons. -
Terms of the enlisment
The Continental Army's terms of enlistment were due December 31st . Washington desperately needed some kind of victory so that his men wouldn't decide to go back home. -
Another Victory
Eight days later Washington's army won another fight against 1,200 British at Princeton. -
Valley Forge 1777-1778
While the British were being supported by the loyalists in Philadelphia, the Continental Army was suffering in Pennsylvania. The patriots didn't have enough supplies or proper clothes for the cold and struggled to stay alive. Washington and his men suffered from exposure and frostbite at the winter camp in Valley Forge. 2,000 out of 10,000 soldiers died and the ones who survived remained in the army. -
The fight for Philadelphia.
General Howe began his attempt to seize the American capital at Philadelphia. His army sailed from New York to Chesapeake Bay and landed near the capital. Washington's troops tried blocking the British near Brandywine Creek. The British captured Philadelphia and enjoyed the hospitality of the Loyalists. -
Battle of Saratoga
The British General, Burgoyne planned to meet Howe in Albany and join forces with Howe's army to isolate New England from the other colonies. Burgoyne led 4,000 British, 3,000 mercenaries, and 1,000 Mowhawk. The Americans Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys attacked Burgoyne at Bennington. Burgoyne didn't realize that Howe wasn't coming to meet him since he was occupied conquering Philadelphia. The American troops finally surrounded Burgoyne at Saratoga,where he surrendered to General Gates. -
Treaty of cooperation
The French recognized American independence and signed an alliance with the Americans. France agreed not to make peace with Britain unless Britain also recognized American Independence. -
French allies shift the balance
Things started to change at Valley Forge. Friedrich Von Steuben, a Prussian captain and talented drillmaster, volunteered his services to General Washington. Von Steuben taught the colonial soldiers to execute field maneuvers, fire and reload quickly, and wield bayonets. The Continental Army was becoming an effective fighting force. -
The British move South
After being defeated at Saratoga, the British changed their military strategy. They began to move South so they could get support from the Loyalists, reclaim their former colonies and slowly fight their way back north. -
Early British Success
A British expedition easily took Savannah, Georgia. -
Georgia
A royal governor once again commanded Georgia. -
Marquis de Lafayette
Lafayette was a 20-year-old French aristocrat who offered his assistance. He joined Washington's staff, lobbied for French reinforcements in France, and led a command in Virginia in the last years of war. -
Charles Town
In their greatest victory of the war, the British captured Charles Town, South Carolina and marched 5,000 American soldiers off as prisoners of war. Clinton then left for New York, leaving Cornwallis to command the British troops and to conquer South and North Carolina. -
Camden
In August, Cornwallis's army smashed American forces at Camden, South Carolina and within three months the British had established forts across the state. Cornwallis and his troops advanced into North Carolina, but had to retreat to South Carolina since the patriots attacked them and cut their communication lines. -
Charles Cornwallis
General Henry Clinton replaced Howe in New York, along with Charles Cornwallis sailed south with 8,500 men. -
Yorktown
A French army of 6,000 men landed in Newport, Rhode Island, after the British left the city. When Cornwallis's plans reached him, Lafayatte suggested that the American and the French armies should join forces with the two French fleets to attack the British at Yorktown. The French then defeated a British fleet and blocked the entrance to Chesapeake Bay, preventing British rescue by sea. French and American troops surrounded the British and bombarded them. It all lasted about three weeks. -
Cowpens
Morgan and his men led the British through rough country side. The troops met in January 1781 at Cowpens, South Carolina. The British expected the outnumbered Americans to flee, but the Continental Army fought back and forced the British to surrender. -
Guilford Court House
Cornwallis attacked Greene at Guilford Court House, North Carolina. The British won the battle but lost many men. 93 were killed, 400 were wounded, and 26 were missing. -
Greene's letter
Greene had weakened the British but he was worried about the fight for the South. So he wrote a letter to Lafayette asking for help. -
Robert Morris & Henry Salomon
Robert Morris, was appointed by the Congress as a superintendent of finance. Henry Salomon was a Jewish political refugee from Poland and was also Robert's associate. They borrowed their personal credit to raise money to provide salaries for the Continental Army. They raised funds from sources such as Philadelphia's Quakers and Jews. -
The troops finally get paid
On september 8, 1781 the troops were finally paid in specie, or gold coin due to the efforts of Morris and Salomon. -
White flag
Cornwallis's troops were outnumbered and exhausted, until Cornwallis finally raised the white flag of surrender. -
Surrender near Yorktown
Colonel William Fontaine of the Virginia militia stood with the American and French armies lining a road near Yorktown, Virginia for the formal British surrender. -
The British surrender at Yorktown
Washington and the French assembled to accept the British surrender. General Charles O'Hara, representing Cornwallis handed over his sword while the British troops laid down their arms. -
Treaty of Paris
The delegates signed the Treaty of Paris, which confirmed Americans independence and set the boundaries of the new nation. The U.S stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from Canada to the Florida border. The countries made promises, however they didn't honor their agreements.
