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British retreat from Boston
The British retreated from Boston moving the war to the Middle states as apart of a big plan to take New York City. -
Defeat in New York
Washington was outnumbered and had untrained recruits with poor equipment and it ended with an American retreat and heavy losses. -
Washington Retreat at New York
Washington rallied 23,000 men to defend New York but he was outnumbered and decided to retreat after suffering heavy losses. -
Washington in Pennsylvania
In the all the British pushed Washington's army across the Delaware River and into Pennsylvania. Washington had fewer than 8,000 men still under his command. -
Washington's bold strike
Washington decided he would try to strike a British post in the middle of the night since his troops term would end on December 31st. -
The Battle of Trenton
George Washington launched his surprise attack and killed 30 of the enemy and took 918 captives and six Hessian cannons. -
End of Enlistment Term
8,000 men remained under Washington's command but on December 31st their terms of enlistment would end and he might be left with no men. -
Victory at Princeton
George Washington won against 1,200 British soldiers stationed at Princeton. -
The Fight for Philadelphia
General Howe started to try and take Philadelphia which was the American capital. -
Burgoyne's Surrender
American troops surrounded Burgoyne at Saratoga leaving him unable to retreat so he surrendered his army to General Gates. -
The Winter at Valley Forge
Washington and his troops had to stay outside in the cold during the coldest winter in history. -
The Turning Point
The French secretly sent weapons to the Patriots since they were still bitter about losing to the British in the French and Indian War. -
Treaty of Cooperation
After Saratoga the French had recognized American independence and signed an alliance saying that France will not make peace with Britain unless Britain also recognizes American independence. -
Americans Get Trained
Friedrich von Steuben a talented drill master volunteered his services to General Washington to make soldiers of Washington's army of untrained soldiers. -
The British Move South
After the British defeat at Saratoga they decided to change their military strategy and began to shift their operations to the South where all the Loyalists are. -
Early British Success in the South
One British expedition took Savannah, Georgia from the Americans. -
Georgia Now Under British Control
A royal governor was now controlling Georgia once again. -
Generals set sail
General Henry Clinton and general Charles Cornwallis sail such with 8,500 men. -
British Take Charles Town
British generals took Charles Town, South Carolina and marched 5,000 American soldiers off as prisoners of war. Following their victory Clinton left for New York and left Cornwallis in charge of the forces in he South to take North and South Carolina. -
Redcoats begin advancing
Cornwallis had been successful in taking the Carolina's and the further he advanced thousands of African Americans joined the British army to win their freedom. -
Cornwallis's Success
Cornwallis's army won against the Continental Army at Camden, and South Carolina. -
The French arrive
A French army of 6,000 landed in Newport, Rhode Island after the British left the city. The French stationed one fleet there and the other in the West Indies. Then Marquis de Lafayette suggested that the Americans and the French join forces with both fleets and attack the British at Yorktown. -
British decide to stay a while
The British established forts across the state but when Cornwallis advanced into North Carolina patriots attacked and cut the British communication lines which made the redcoats retreat to South Carolina. -
Troops Collide at Cowpens
When Morgan and his men finally faced the British they were outnumbered but the British thought the Americans would flee. The Continental Army fought back and forced the redcoats to surrender. -
Greene asked Lafayette for help
Nathaniel Greene weakened the British but was worried about the fight for the South so he wrote a letter to Lafayette asking for help. -
New Superintendent of Finance
Congress had been struggling to finance the war and appointed a rich merchant, Robert Morris, as the superintendent of finance hoping that he'd be able to help finance the war. -
Troops Were Paid
Morris and Solomen finally had enough money to pay the troops in gold coin. -
Cornwallis Surrenders
Cornwallis's troops were outnumbered by over two to one and he was exhausted and decided to surrender. -
British Surrender at Yorktown
Colonel William Fontaine stood with the American and French armies to watch the British surrender. -
The British Surrender
On October 19th, Washington and the French generals, and troops assembled to accept the British surrender. Once General Charles O'Hara handed over his sword representing Cornwallis the British troops laid down their arms. -
The Treaty of Paris was signed
The United States, Great Britain, France, and Spain all came to negotiate American independence and set the boundaries of the new nation.
