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War Moves to the Middle States
The British had retreated from Boston in March 1776. This retreat moved the war to the middle states. As for the British, they decided to seize New York City, as part of their master plan. -
Secret Aid
The French has been secretly sending weapons to the Patriots since early 1776. -
A Brotherly Alliance
Two brothers, General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe, joined forces on Staten Island. They then sailed to New York harbor in the summer of 1776 with 32,000+ soldiers.
(Estimated month and day) -
The Chaotic Withdrawal
On August 27, 1776, Michael Graham describe the American retreat in New York.
"Here the British passed and got betwixt them and Brooklyn unobserved" - Micheal Graham,1776 -
Washington's Situation
By late fall (1776), Washington's army has been pushed across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. He was left with less than 8,000 men and needed some sort of victory to keep them from going home.
(Estimated month and day) -
A Christmas Miracle
Washington set a risky attack on Christmas night of 1776. In the face of a fierce storm, he led 2,400 men across an ice-choked Delaware River. -
The Miracle Came
By 8 o'clock the next morning, the men arrived in Trenton, New Jersey, guarded by Hessians, who were at a drunken disadvantage.
In a surprise attack, the Americans killed 30 of the enemy and took 918 captives and 6 Hessian cannons. -
Another Victory
8 days after the victory at Trenton, the Americans were rallied by another astonishing victory against 1,200 British men at Princeton.
Washington was encouraged enough that he marched his army into winter camp near Morristown, northern New Jersey. -
The Fight For Philadelphia (Spring - Summer)
In the spring of 1777, General Howe began his campaign to seize the American capital at Philadelphia.
In late August, they successfully landed near the capital. The Continental Congress fled the city while Washington unsuccessfully attempted to block the redcoats at nearby Brandywine Creek.
The British captured Philadelphia.
(Estimated month and day) -
Victory at Saratoga
General John Burgoyne, a general for the enemy, was surrounded at Saratoga, along with his army, by General Gates, a general for America.
This surrender changed how British fought in the war. -
Winter of 1777-1778
The time period when the Patriots had to struggle to survive in the cold winter.
(Estimated month and day) -
A French Alliance
After seeing the Saratoga Victory, the French's trust in the Americans boosted and agreed to support the Revolution.
The French signed an alliance, or treaty of cooperation, with the Americans in February 1778. -
European Allies Shift the Balance
Friedrich von Steuben, a Prussian captain and talented drillmaster, transformed the colonial soldiers into stronger, smarter, and better soldiers.
(Estimated day) -
British Move South
After the defeat at Saratoga, the British head down south to seek Loyalist support and Native American support.
(Estimated month and day) -
British Take Savannah
At the end of 1778, the British easily took Savannah, Georgia.
(Estimated month and day) -
Lafayette and The French
Around the same time when von Steuben gave his assistance, Marquis de Lafayette offered his as well. He joined forces with Washington, lobbied for French reinforcements in 1779, and led a command in Virginia towards the end of the war. -
Georgia Under Command Again
By the spring of 1779, a royal governor once again commanded Georgia.
(Estimated month and day) -
Tag Team
In 1780, British General Henry Clinton teamed up with Charles Cornwallis to sail south with 8,600 men.
(Estimated month and day) -
Cornwallis & Clinton Capture Charles Town
After sailing south to South Carolina, Cornwallis & Clinton capture Charles Town and march 5,500 Americans soldiers off as prisoners. This was their greatest victory in the war. -
The French Station Fleets
In 1780, a French army of 6,000 landed in Newport, Rhode Island, after the British went South.
(Estimated month and day) -
Cornwallis Steamrolls American Forces
In August, 1780, Cornwallis completely destroyed through American forces at Camden, South Carolina. -
Americans Fight Back
After chasing the British through the rough countryside, American and British forces meet up at Cowpens, South Carolina.
The British expected the Americans to flee, but they instead fought back and forced the redcoats to surrender. -
Cornwallis's Revenge
Angered by the defeat at Cowpens, Cornwallis attacks Nathanael Greene 2 months later at Guilford Court House, North Carolina.
Cornwallis won the battle, but at the expense of his troops. -
Greene Asks For Help
Even though Greene successfully weakened the British, he worried about the fight for the South. So on April 3rd, 1781, he wrote a letter to Lafayette asking for help. -
Financing the War
In 1781, the Continental Congress got a rich Philadelphia merchant, Robert Morris, as superintendent of finance. He had an associate, Haym Salomon, who he worked with each other to raise money to provide salaries for the Continental Army.
(Estimated month and day) -
The Big Payout
With the effort put in by Morris and Salomon, by September 8, 1781, the troops were finally paid. (They were paid in gold coins) -
Victory At Yorktown
After seizing Yorktown for a long time, on October 17, 1781, Cornwallis finally raised the white flag of surrender. -
A Witness of The British Surrender
On the afternoon of October 19, 1781, Colonel William Fontaine of the Virginia militia stood with the American and French armies lining a road near Yorktown, Virginia. He had just witnessed the formal British surrender. -
Seeking Peace
Peace talks began in 1781 in Paris, Representatives from the US, France, Great Britain, and Spain meet up and have a talk. America hopes for Independence, Britain hopes for the complete opposite, France supports America, but fears America becoming a major power, and Spain just wants some land. -
Treaty of Paris
On September 1783, the delegates signed the Treaty of Paris, granting the US full independence from Great Britain.
