Revolutionary War Timeline Kaitlyn White

By Kaitlyn White

  • Sending Weapons

    Still bitter from their defeat by the British in the French and Indian War, the French had secretly sent weapons to the Patriots.

  • British Retreating

    The British had previously retreated from Boston, moving the theater of war to the Middle States.

  • Howe Brothers Joining Forces

    General William Howe and Admiral Richard Howe, joined forces on Staten Island and sailed into New York harbor with the largest British expeditionary force ever assembled.

  • Battle of New York

    The Battle of New York ended in late August with an American retreat following heavy losses.

  • Washington's Army

    The British had pushed Washington's army across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. The vast majority of Washington's men had either deserted or had been killed or captured.

  • Washington's Risk

    Washington resolved to risk everything on one bold stroke set. In the face of a fierce storm, he led 2,400 men in small rowboats across the ice-choked Delaware River.

  • Washington Starting To Loose Hope

    Fewer than 8,000 men remained under Washington's command, and the terms of their enlistment were due to end. Also, Washington desperately needed some kind of victory for his men to keep them from going home.

  • Trenton, New Jersey

    By 8 o'clock AM, the men marched nine miles through sleet and snow to the objective-Trenton, New Jersey, held by a garrison of Hessians.

  • Seizing The American Capital

    General Howe began his campaign to seize the American capital at Philadelphia.

  • Burgoyne Is Surrounded

    Massed American troops finally surrounded Burgoyne at Saratoga, where he surrendered his battered army to General Gates.

  • Valley Forge

    Albigense Waldo worked as a surgeon at Valley Forge.

  • American Independence

    The French recognized American independence ad signed an alliance, or treaty of cooperation, with the Americans.

  • Friedrich von Steuben

    American troops began an amazing transformation. Friedrich von Steuben volunteered his services to General Washington.

  • British Moving to the South

    After the defeat at Saratoga, the British changed their military strategy; they began to shift their operations to the South.

  • British Expedition

    A British expedition easily took Savannah, Georgia.

  • Royal Governor

    A royal governor once again commanded Georgia.

  • Marquis de Lafayette Joining Washington's Staff

    The young Lafayette joined Washington's staff and bore the misery of Valley Forge, lobbied for French reinforcements and led a command in Virginia in the last years of the war.

  • Charles Cornwallis Sailing South

    General Henry Clinton (who had replaced Howe in New York), along with the ambitious general Charles Cornwallis sailed South with 8,500 men.

  • The British Capturing Charles Town

    The British captured Charles Town, South Carolina and marched 5,500 American soldiers off as prisoners of war.

  • Cornwallis' Army Smashing American Forces

    Cornwallis' army smashed American forces at Camden, South Carolina, and within three months the British had established forts across the state.

  • Redcoats Surrendering

    When the forces met at Cowpens, South Carolina, the British expected the outnumbered Americans to flee; but the Continental Army fought back, and forced the redcoats to surrender.

  • Cornwallis Attacking Greene

    Angered by the defeat at Cowpens, Cornwallis attacked Greene at Guilford Court House, North Carolina.

  • Greene's Letter

    Greene wrote a letter to Lafayette, asking for help.

  • Robert Morris

    The Congress appointed a rich Philadelphia merchant named Robert Morris as superintendent of finance.

  • Troops Being Paid

    Due to the efforts of Morris and Salomon, the troops were finally paid in specie, or gold coin.

  • Cornwallis Surrendering

    With Cornwallis' troops outnumbered by more than two or one an exhausted from constant shelling, he finally raised the white flag of surrender.

  • British Surrendering

    Colonel William Fontaine of the Virginia militia stood with the American and French armies lining a road near Yorktown, Virginia, to witness the formal British surrender.

  • Accepting The Surrender

    A triumphant Washington, the French generals and their troops assembled to accept the British surrender.

  • Representating Four Nations

    Representatives of four nations- the United States, Great Britain, France, and Spain- joined the negotiations, with each nation looking out for it's own interests.

  • Treaty of Paris

    The delegates signed the Treaty of Paris, which confirmed U.S. independence and set the boundaries of the new nation.