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The British Moves the War to the Middle States
The British traveled from Boston to the Middle States to continue to fight the war. They moved the war due to the British plan of trying to isolate New England. The British had planned to stop the rebellion, so they first decided to seize New York City. -
Bitter Revenge
Due to the defeat of the French by the British during the French and Indian War, the French wanted to help the Patriots defeat the Loyalists and gain its own independence from Britain. The French helped by sending over weapons in secret to the Patriots, that would benefit them in defeating the British. -
Two Armies Collide as One
Brothers General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe, met up on Staten Island to join forces and created a larger and stronger army. The men had created the largest British force for exploration with 32,000 soldiers including German Hessians. The brothers and the army then sailed into the New York Harbor. -
No Win for Washington
Washington and his 23,000 men traveled to New York to try to defeat William and Richard Howe's large army. Washington's army was outnumbered by almost 10,000 men and were unprepared to fight. His men had limited military skills and were not as well equipt as the British were. As a result, Washington faced a defeat. -
The Americans are Being Moved
The British had pushed the Americans to Pennsylvania by crossing the Delaware River. As a result of this event, a large sum of George Washington's army had perished, were left behind, or were captured by the British. -
The Battle of Trenton
George Washington and 2,400 of his men rowed across the Delaware River landing in New Jersey. The men then soon after marched into Trenton. The British were drunk and unaware of the Americans plan of a surprise attack. Due to this attack, 30 men were killed, 918 men were captured and six Hessian cannons were confiscated by the Americans. -
A Victory is Well Needed
Due to the British pushing the Americans into Pennsylvania and across the Delaware River, only about 8,000 American men had survived. Their terms of enlistment had ended and Washington was motivated to have a victory for the men in order for them to continue to stay fighting and not go back home. -
Victory at Princeton
Just days after their victory at the Battle of Trenton, the Americans defeated about 1,200 British troops at Princeton. As a result of these victories, Washington and his men traveled to a winter camp just outside of Morristown, New Jersey. -
The British Capture the City of Brotherly Love
General Howe and his army sailed from New York and landed near Philadelphia. There, he planned to seize the capital and the Continental Congress left the city when he arrived. As Washington and his men unsuccessfully tried to halt the redcoats, the British captured Philadelphia. -
Turning Point at Saratoga
General John Burgoyne had made a plan where he would lead an army down a route from Canada to Albany. There, he would meet Howe and his troops and they would join together to try to isolate New England. Due to swamps and food supplies running low, Burgoyne's army had decreased. The American troops surrounded Burgoyne who with no choice, had to surrender his army. This was a turning point in the war and showed the French they could have faith in America and could form an alliance with them. -
Harsh Winter at Valley Forge
Patriot troops camped outside at Valley Forge. While the British were warm and cozy inside homes, the Patriots suffered and had to live in harsh conditions. During this time, the Patriots lacked supplies, like food and proper clothing that were beneficial to surviving the cold weather. Due to the lack of supplies, many of the Americans perished. -
France and America Make An Alliance
As a result of the victory of the Battle of Saratoga, the French realized the could trust the Americans. With this trust, they also decided they could make an alliance with them and help support them during the revolution. They agreed to recognize American independence, thus signing an alliance. The also agreed to not make peace with the British unless they gave America full independence. -
The Help of a European
During the winter at Valley Forge, Friedrich von Steuben, a drillmaster and Prussian Captain volunteered to help George Washington make his army better. He taught them military skills that they would need to defend themselves on the battle field. He also taught them moves they would need to use to reload quicker, which would benefit them. Due to his efforts, the army improved drastically and battles were beginning to be won by the Americans. -
Plans to Move South
The British decided to change their plan and strategy of victory after being defeated by the Americans at Saratoga. Their new plan was to head south due to the advantage of a large portion of the south containing loyalists. They hoped to gain loyalists support and claim back their colonies, then head back north slowly. -
Savannah is Captured
The city of Savannah, Georgia was captured by the British Army as part of their plan to move South. -
Another Military Leader Offers Help
Not only did the British have the help of Friedrich von Steuben, but they also had the help of another military leader by the name of Marquis de Lafayette. Lafayette was a French aristocrat who offered his help to Washington and joined the Americans. He led a command in Virginia toward the end of the war, bore the misery of Valley Forge, and he also spoke for French reinforcements in France. With Lafayette's help, the Americans would win the American Revolution. -
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Success for Cornwallis
In the South, the British army gained the help of thousands of African Americans slaves who believed the British would help them become free. They agreed to become loyalists and fight for the British against the Patriots. This advantage had influenced a large portion of the British wins in the South under General Charles Cornwallis. -
Capturing Charles Town
The largest and greatest victory for the British in the south was at Charles Town, South Carolina. There, the British captured 5,500 American soldiers as prisoners of war. -
Moving South Begins
The British began to go along with their plan of shifting to the South to gain the support of loyalists and slaves. Now, under General Henry Clinton and General Charles Cornwallis, the British traveled south along with 8,500 men. -
The British Try to Move Into North Carolina
At Camden, South Carolina, the Americans suffered another defeat from the British under the leadership of Cornwallis. After their victory, the British decided to create forts all across the state of South Carolina. Cornwallis and his troops marched into North Carolina, but when they reached the state, Patriot troops attacked the Loyalists and they continued to harass the British. The British then decided to move back to South Carolina after all of the harassment. -
Lafayette's Brilliant Plan
After the British fled Newport, Rhode Island, to focus on their plan of southern exploration, a French army filled with about 6,000 men had landed there. The French set up a fleet at Newport and another one located in the West Indies. Marquis de Lafayette heard of Cornwallis's plan where he then came to the conclusion that the Americans and French should join forced in order to create a large and powerful army to fight off the British at Yorktown. -
Outnumbered Americans Fight Back
George Washington ordered General Nathanael Greene to head south to harass Cornwallis. Greene divided his army into two with one group being sent under the leadership of General Daniel Morgan. Morgan and his army headed to South Carolina while Cornwallis sent Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton and troops to fight Morgans army. Morgan and the troops met the British at Cowpens, South Carolina where the outnumbered Continental army fought back and forced the British to surrender. -
Devastating Defeat
Due to the devastating defeat at Cowpens, South Carolina, angry Cornwallis attacked General Nathanael Greene at Guilford Court House, North Carolina. Although Cornwallis did physically win the battle, he faced a huge loss in his army as 93 men perished, 400 were seriously wounded and 26 were missing. -
A Letter to Lafayette
General Greene believed that after the huge loss of men at Guilford Court House, North Carolina, he weakened the British army but was terrified about fighting for the South. He wrote a letter to Lafayette describing what happened and pleading for help. He knew that with the help of Lafayette and his militia skills, he could make his army better prepared to fight the British for the South. -
Financial Issues
Congress ran out of currency due to the war and so they needed to print their own paper money. As they continued to print out money, the value increased and so did prices of goods. As a result of this, Congress needed to appoint Robert Morris, a rich merchant, as superintendent of finance, alongside his partner, Haym Solomon. These men would soon help regain money for the troops. -
The Troops Get Paid
Haym Salomon and Robert Morris stopped at nothing to try to raise money for the Continental Army's troops who did not have a ton of money. They begged and pleaded from their personal credit and from the people of Philadelphia. As a result of their courageous efforts, the troops were paid in gold coins called specie. -
The Battle of Yorktown
The Americans and the French agreed with Lafayette's plan and joined forces. They soon after defeated a British fleet then surrounded Cornwallis by blocking off any entrances to the Chesapeake Bay. By doing so, the British could not receive any more men or supplies. On the Yorktown Peninsula, the French and Americans surrounded the British. After three weeks of suffering and the his men being outnumbered, Cornwallis had no other choice but to raise the white flag and surrender his army. -
The Last Battle of the American Revolution
Cornwallis knew his men were outnumbered by the powerful American and French army, and he was tired of fighting, so he surrendered his army and raised the white flag. The French and the Americans were pleased with their victory as British General, Charles O'Hara, handed over his sword. Both the Americans and French knew they fought a hard battle, but independence would soon follow after. -
Negotiations in Paris
In Paris, four nations had representatives meet and discuss what their interest were. America wanted Britain to give them full independence and recognize them as a new nation. France agreed with Britain giving America their independence, however they were fearful of America having too much power. Britain wanted to avoid giving full independence to America. Spain wanted lands between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. -
Treaty of Paris is Signed
The Treaty of Paris was the document that confirmed America's full independence from Britain. This document created the boundaries for the United States which was the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from the Florida border to Canada. Britain agreed to protect Native American lands and to get rid of their forts in America. America agreed the British could collect debts owned and loyalists could sue in courts for their losses. These promises made by both countries were not kept.
