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Turning point. !!!
Still bitter from defeat from the British in the French & Indian War, The French had secretly sent weapons to the patriots. -
British retreat
British prevoiusly retreated from Boston moving the theater of war to the Middle States. -
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Brothers joining
General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe joined forces on Staten Island and sailed into New York Harbor with the largest British expeditionary force ever assembled. -
Michael Graham
Michael Graham a continental army leader described the chaotic withdrawl of Washington 23,000 men to new yorks defense against 32,000 british soldiers. Late august is when the the retreat happened -
Battle of Trenton
One bold attempt on christmas night, Washington faced a fierce storm with 2,400 men down the delaware river wich was ice choked. In rowboats. By 8:00 o'clock next morning the men had marched 9 miles through sleet and snow to Trenton, New Jersey in the hands of a garrison of Hessians. The hessians were drunk form the nigth before sleepind it off that night. With a suprise attack on them form the continental army, washington's army killed 30 of the enemy, captured 918 captives and captured 6 canon -
8,000 men enlistment to end.
8,000 men still remained under Washington's command and the terms of their enlistment were due to end on the 31st. He needed desperately a victory to keep them with him instead og going home. -
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The fight for Philadelphia
General Howe began his campaign to seize the American capital at Philadelphia. Sailing from NY to Chesapeake BAy and near the capital in late August. The Continental Congress fled the city while washingtons troops unsuceesfully tried to block the Britishby Brandywine Creek. The British Captured Philadelphia. General Howe was pleased by the hospitallity of the loyalist. -
Saratoga
Massed American troops finally surrounded Burgoyne at Saratoga where he surrender hisbattered army to General Gates. -
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Valley Forge
Low point for General Washington's troops. It was a winter camp where in the woods the troops were underclothed and freezing,also they ran out of food. The only shelter they had were makeshift huts while as opposed to the British where they are in warm homes. -
Treaty
The French reconized American independence and signed an alliance or treaty of cooperation with them, According to it, it stated that FRnace is not allowed to make peace with Britain unless Britain reconized American Independence. -
Amazing Transformation
In the midst of freezing weather at valley forge, American troops began an amzing transformation. Friedrich von Steuben a Prussian captain and skilled drilled master, volunteered his services to General Washington and went to work to make regular soldiers out of country bumbkins. Von Steuben taught the colonial soldiers to stand at attention, execute field maneuvers, fire and reload quickly, and wield bayonets. With the help of European military leaders, the Continental army became skilled. -
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Strategy Check
After the horrible defeat at Saratoga, the British changed there military strategy. In the summer they began to shift there operations to the south. The British hoped to rally loyalist support, reclaim their former colonies in the region, and slowly fight there way back north. -
Savannah Georgia taken
At the end of 1778, the British expedition easily took Savanah, Georgia. -
Royal Govenor in command again
By the spring of 1779, a royal Govenor once again commanded Georgia -
Most Successful year Cornwallis
As the redcoats advanced, they were joined by thousands of African Americans who had escaped patriot slave owners to join the British and win their freedom. -
Lafayette
A military leader named Marquis de Lafayette, a brave, idelaistic 20 year old, French aristocrat, offered his assistance. He joined Washingtons staff and bore the misery of Valley Forge, lobbied for French reinforcementsin France and led a command in VA in the last years of war. -
Charles Cornwallis
General Henry Clinton, who had replaced general Howe in NY along with the ambitious General Charles Cornwallis sailed south with 8,500 men. In their greatest victory of the war, the British captured Charles Town, SC, in MAy 1780 and marched 5,500 American soldiers off as POW's. Clintonthen then left for NY, leaving Cornwallis to command the British forces in the South and to Conquer South and North Carolina. -
Good luck
French army of 6,000 had landed in Newport, RI, after the British left city to focus on the South. When Cornwallis plan reached Lafayette, he suggested the french and american armies join toghether and attack British forces at york town. -
Camden
Cornwallis army smashed American forces at Camden, South Caroloina. -
Forts across states
Within three months Cornwallis established forts across state. But when he and his forces advanced into NC, patriot bands attacked them and cut British communication lines. The contnous harrassment forced them to retreat to SC. -
Grueling Chase
Daniel Morgan and his men led the British on a grueling chase through rough countryside. When forces met at Cowpens, SC, the British expected the outnumbered Americans to flee; but the Continental Army fought back, and forced the redcoats to surrender. -
REVENGE!! from Cornwallis
Angered by defeat at Cowpens, Cornwallis attacked Greene at Guilford Court House, NC. Cornwallis won but the victory cost him nearly a fourth of his troops- 93 were killed, over 400 were wounded, and 26 were missing. -
Robert Morris
Congress appointed a rich Philadelphia merchant named Robert Morris as Superintendent of finance. With his associate Haym Salomon, a Jewish political refugeefrom Poland. THey borrowed money from there personal credit to raise money to provide saleries for the Contoinental Army. -
Financing the War
Morris and Salomon raised funds form many sources including Philadelphia's Quakers and Jews. Due to there efforts, the toops were finally paid in specie or gold coin. -
Surrender Cornwallis!
Cornwallis with his troops outnumbered more than two to one and exhausted from constant shelling, Cornwallis finally raised the white flag of surrender. -
Yorktown
Colonel Willaim Fontaine of the Virginia militia stood withthe American and French armies lining a road near Yorktown, Virginia on one afternoon. The French were in Fresh blue coats while the Continental armies were in roughed uo ragged hunting shirts and faded continental uniforms. -
Accepting victory and there defeat
Washington and French Generals and their troops assembled to accept the British surrender. General Charles O'hara, representing Cornwallis, handed over his sword and the British laid down their arms. -
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Seeking Talks
Peace talks began in Paris. Representatives from four nations: U.S - Great Britain - France - Spain. joined the negotiations with each nation looking out for there own interest. -
Treaty of Paris
Delagates signed the Treaty of Paris which confirmed U.S independence and set boundaries for a new nation.
