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Early 1776
The French secretley startedto send weapons to American Patriots. -
March 1776
The British retreated from Boston and moved the war to the middle states. -
Summer 1776
General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe decided to join forces on Staten Island. Together they sailed into New York Harbor with the largest British expeditionary force that consisted of 32,000 soldiers and many German mercenaries. -
August 1776
George Washington rallies 23,000 men to New York defense. However the troops weren't trained and had poor weapons thus having to retreat the battle. -
Late Fall 1776
The British pushed Washington's army across the Deleware River into Pennsylvannia. -
December 1776
Washington lead 2,400 men in small row boats across the icy Deleware River. -
December 1776
Washington's men had marched nine miles through sleet and snow to get to Trenton, New Jersey. Most of the Hessians had drunk too much rum the night before so they weren't prepared for anything. In a surprise attack, the Americans killed 30, taken 918 captives, and six Hessians cannons. -
December 1776
The enlistment for Wahsington's men was due to end. -
January 1777
Americans won against 1,200 British men stationed in Princeton. -
Spring 1777
General Howe began campaign to seize American capital at Philadelphia. -
Late August 1777
General Howe and his British troops landed near the American capital of Philadelphia which was Chesapeake Bay. The British ended up seizing Philadelphia. -
Period: to
1777 to 1778
Continental Army camped at Valley Forge. -
October 1777
Americans surrounded British comander at Saratoga and he gave his army up. -
February 1778
The French signed an alliance with the Americans and agreed to never make peace with the British unless the British recognized American independence. -
February 1778
At Valley Forge, American troops transformed into real soldiers. -
Summer of 1778
After their defeat at Saratoga, the British changed their military strategy. -
End of 1778
The British easily took Savannah, Georgia during their expedition. -
1779
The young Lafayette joined Washington's stff and bore the misery of Valley Forge, lobbied for French reinforcements in France. -
Spring 1779
Royal govenor once again commanded Georgia. -
May 1780
General Henry Clinton replaced Howe in New York with General Charles Cornwallis. Together they sailed south with 8,500 men. The British captured Charles Town, South Carolina. -
August of 1780
Cornwallis's army smashed American forces at Camden, South Carolina. Over the next three months the British constructed forts across the state. But when Cornwallis and his forces advanced into North Carolina, they were attacked by Patriot bands and cut communication for the British. -
1780
For the most of 1780, Cornwallis was very succesful. -
January 1781
General Daniel Morgan and his men led the British on a chase through harsh countryside. When they met, the British expected the outnumbered Americans to scurry but they thought wrong. The Continental Army fought with all they had until the British surrendered. -
March 1781
Cornwallis was very angered by the defeat at Cowpens so he attacked Greene at Guliford Court House, North Carolina. Cornwallis won the battle but he lost nearly a fourth of his troops. -
April 1781
Greene had weekened the British but he worried about the fight for the South. So he contacted Lafayette by writing a letter asking for help. -
July 1781
The congress apoints a rich merchant from Philadelphia, Robbert Morris who is the superintendent of finance. -
Septemebr 1781
The troops finally get paid gold coins from there efforts of Morris and Saratoga. -
October 1781
Victory at Yorktown for the Americans! Cornwallis was outnumbered and was being defeated so he finally raised the white flag of surrender. -
October 1781
A very exciting moment for Washington, the French generals, and their troops as they accepted the British surrender. -
Paris 1782
Peace talks begin between representatives of four nations, the United States, Great Britain, France, and Spain. -
Septemebr 1783
The delegates signed the Treaty of Paris confirming U.S. independence!
