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French aids Patriots
The French had been secretly aiding the Patriots since early 1776 by sending weapons. -
British retreat
The British previously retreated from Boston moving the war to the middle states. -
General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe
The two brothers joined forces and sailed into New York Harborwith the largest British expedionary force ever assembled with 32,000 soldiers including german mercenaries and soldiers who fought for money. -
Continental Army Retreat
Washington and his army of 23,000 men went into New York but they were outnumbered and had low supplies so they were forced to retreat from New york. -
Washington Risk
Washington resolved to risk everything on one bold stroke set for Christmas night, 1776. -
Soldier enlistments
Fewer than 8,000 of Washingtons men remained under his command and the terms of their enlistment were due to end on December 31 -
The fight for Philedelphia
General Howe began his campaign to seize the American Capital at Philedelphia. -
Redcoats arrive
Howe's army sailed from New york to the head of Chesapeake Bay, and landed near the capital.British get past Washingtons army and takes over the capital and settled in with the hospitality from the Loyalists. -
Victory at Saratoga
The continental army surronded General Burgoyne and his army of 4,000 redcoats, 3,000 mercenaries, and 1,000 mohawk at Saratoga and it changed Britains war strategy and gave the Continenal Army motivation. -
Valley Forge
During the winter of 1777-1778, many soldiers of the Continental Army had to suffer the harshness of the winter conditions and many soldiers died or left the army. -
France become allies
France sign an alliance with Americans after recognizing American independence. -
American Troops improve
In the midst of the frozen winter in Valley Forge, American troops began an amazing transformation under Prussian captain Friedrich von Steuben. They learned so much like field manuevers, firing, etc. -
European Allies shif the balance
Marquis de Lafayette also offered his assistance to the Americans by providing training and strategies. -
The British move south
After losing in Saratoga, the British began to move south in order to rally Loyalist support, reclaim their former colonies in the region, and slowly fight their way back north. -
Valley Forge Rememberance
After winning the war, the Americans that were there at valley forge never thought of winning the war. The patriots have finally won the war. -
British success in south
British expedition took Savannah, Georgia -
French Reinforcements
Lafayette joined Washingtons staff and bore at Valley Forge and lobbied for French reinforcements in France and led a command in Virginia in the last years of the war. -
British success in south
A royal governor once again commanded Georgia. -
General Howe replaced
General Henry Clinton replaced Howe and sailed south with 8, 500 men with Charles Cornwallis. -
General Clinton victory
British capture Charles Town, South Carolina and marched 5, 500 American slodiers off as prisoners of war. -
Cornwallis succeeds
for most of 1780, Cornwallis succeeded during the battles. -
French Army lands
A french army of 6,000 had landed in newport, Rhode Island after the British left the city to focus on the south. -
Forces meet
The two armies met at Cowpens, South Carolina and the British expected the outnumbered Americans to flee but they fought back and the redcoats were forced to surrender. -
Greene requests help
Nathaniel Greene has weakened the British bt he was worried about the fight for the south so he wrote a letter to Lafayette asking for help. -
Economic situation
The congress appointed a rich Philedelphia merchant named Robert Morris as superentindent of finance after suffering inflation and using profiteering. -
Soldiers recieve pay
The troops were finally paid in specie, or gold coin -
Cornwallis surrenders
After being outnumbered by more than two to one and exhausted from constant shelling, he finally surrendered. -
Yorktown
Colonial William Fontaine of the Virginia militia stood with the Americans and French armies near Yorktown, Virginia to see the British surrender. -
Washington accepts British surrender
Washington, the French generals, and their troops assembled to accept the British surrender. Cornwallis handed over his sword and the British troops laid down their arms. -
Seeking peace
Peace talks began in Paris with representatives from the United States, Great Britain, France, and Spain. -
Treaty of Paris
The treaty confirmed U.S. independence and set the boundaries of the new nation. The U.S. now stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Missippi River and from Canada to the Florida border.
