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Early 1776
Victory at Saratoga boosted the French's trust in the Continental Army. France agreed to help with the American Revolution. -
March 1776
The British retreat of the British in Boston led the war to take center stage in the Middle States. This was part of a big plan to put an end to the rebellion by quarantining New England. The overall objective was to capture New York City. -
Summer 1176
General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe came together with their forces on Staten Island and sailed to New York Harbor. This was the largest British expiditionary force to ever be assembled. It included 32,000 soldiers in all among them were thousands of German mercanaries. -
August 27, 1776
Washington gathered 23,000 men to defend New York. But, he was greatly outnumbered by the British. Most of the troops were untrained recruits with poor weaponry. The battle for New York ended with defeat on behalf of the Americans retrating. The Continental Army expirienced heavy losses. -
Late Fall
The British have pushed Washington's army accross the Delaware River into Pennsylvannia. Most of Washington's men had either been deserted, killed or captured. Washinton remained with fewer than 8,000 men. -
Christmas Night 1776
George Washington put it all on the line on Christmas night. Although there was a harsh storm he led 2,400 men in small rowbats in the Delaware River chock full of ice. By 8 o'clock the next morning the troops had marched 9 miles to Trenton, New Jersey. It was held by a command post of Hessians. Most of the Hessians were not prepared for a surprise attack and were hungover from drinking too much rum the night before. The Patriots killed 30 Hessians and took 918 captive and 6 of their cannons. -
Bye, Bye Soldiers.. Oh, wait!
Enlistment was due to end on December 31. Washington needed a confidence boost for his men, a victory of some sort to keep them from going home. And boy, did he get one after ambushing the Hessians. -
Eight Days after Christmas
Another victory was put in the pockets of the Continental Army against 1,200 British soldiers at Princeton. This uplifted spirits and boosted confidence for the colonists. Washington marched his army to somewhere near Morristown, New Jersey to a winter camp. -
The Fight for Philedelphia Begins
General Howe begins to make a plan to seize the capital of the colonies, Philidelphia. His soldiers sailed from New York to the head of the Chesapeale Bay and landed near Philidephia in late August. The Continental congress fled the city while Washington tried to stop the Recdcoats from taking over with no success nearby at Brandywine. The British successfully captured Philidelphia. -
Battle of Saratoga
Thousands of American troops had Burgyone and his men surronded at Saratoga. His battered army caused him to surrender to General Gates. This surrencer changed the British's war strategies, they kept their troops along the coast where they could be supplied much faster and easier. -
Period: to
Winter 1777-1778
The Britsh troops at this point occupied Philidelphia and made themselves cozy inside the homes of loyalists. Meanwhile the Patrots were underfed and underclothed had to huddle to keep warm in makedhift huts in the freezing cold woods in Pennsylvannia. -
Transformation
In the middle of the freezing winter at Valley Forge, Americans began a war changing transformation. An exceptional Prussian captain and drillmaster, Friedrich von Steuben volunteered his services to General George Washington. He taught the Continetal Army how to stabnd at attention, execute field maneuvers, fire and reload weapons and wield bayonettes. -
Summer of 1778
After facing defeat at the Battle of Saratoga the British decided to change their tactics. They began to move thier focus towards the South. While in the south the British anticipated to gather Loyalist support and take back their former colonies in the region and work their way up to the north. -
End of 1778
The British easily capture Savannah, Gerogia. -
Français
An alliance between the French and colonists was signed. The terms stated the the French could not make peace with the British until American independence was delcared by Britain. -
Lafayette and the French
Shortly after von Steuben another military leader, Marquis de Lafayette aided Washington and the colonial army. He joined Washington at Valley Forge and lobbied for French reinforcements. He also, led a command in Virgina in the final years of the war. -
Spring 1779
A British governer once again commands Georgia. -
Charles Town, South Carolina
General Henry Clinton and General Charles Cornwallis sailed south with 8,500 men. The British's most triumphant victory in the war was capturing Charles Town, SC. -
The British Surrender at Yorktown
The French army of 6,000 men landed in Newport, Rhode Island, after the British left the city to turn their center of attention on the South. The French had one fleet stationed there and another one in the West Indies. When Marquis de Lafayette heard of Cornwallis' plan he suggested that the Continental and French army meet with the two French fleets and attack the British at Yorktown together. -
P.O.W
The British marched 5,500 Continental soldiers off as prisoner of war. General Henry Clinton then left for New York leaving Cornwallis with the British army under his cimmand in the South in order to conquer North Carolina and the South. -
Camden, South Carolina
under Cornwallis' control the British army obliterated American forces at Camden, SC. In about 3 months the Redcoats had established forts throughout the state. However, as Cornwallis and his men moved farther into North Carolina they were attacked by Patriots who cut off their communication lines. This caused the British to retreat to SC. -
Financing
Congress elected a rich Philadeplphian merchant, Robert Morris as superintendent of finance. His associate, Haym Salomon was a Jewish political refugee from Poland. Morris and Solomon pleased and asked for money from many sources on their personal credit to raise profit and to be able to pay soldiers from the Continental Army. -
Britsh Loss, Continetal Win
General Morgan and his men led the British on a difficult chase through the countryside when the armies finally met at Cowpens, SC. The British assumed the Patriots would flee because of their low numbers compared to the redcoats. But, the Americans fought back and strained the Redcoats so much that they surrendered. -
Cornwallis' Revenge
Cornwallis was sore about the defeat at Cowpens, SC. Cornwallis attacked Greene and his troops two months later at the Guilford Court House, North Carolina. Although Cornwallis won the battle he lost 93 men, had over 400 wonded and 26 missing. -
Lafayette to the Rescue
Greene knew that undoubtedly he had weaked the redcoats but, he still worried about the South being seized by the British. He wrote a letter to French General Lafayette asking for help. -
$$$$$
The troops were finally paid in specie also known as gold coins. -
White Flag
Cornwallis' troops were outnumbered by a ratio of more than 2:1 and were extremely exhausted from nonstop shelling. Cornwallis raised the white flag of surrender for Britain. -
Formal British Surrender
Washington, French generals, and their troops all assembled to accept England's surrender. General Charles O'hara represented Cornwallis and handed over his sword, following him the British laid down their arms. -
Surrender
Colonel William Fontaine stoof with American and French armies on a road near Yorktown, VA in the afternoon to sitness the British surrender. -
Treaty of Paris
The Treaty of Paris was signed by delegates. this document confirmed the independence of the U.S and set it's boundaries.
