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Turning Point
French secretly sent weapons to the Patriots. -
The War Moves to the Middles States
British previously retreated from Boston moving the theater of war to the the middle states. To stop the rebellion by isolating New England, the British decide to seize New York City. -
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Defeat in New York
William and Richard Howe joined forces and sailed into New York Harbor with 32,000 soldiers, including Hessians, who fought only for money. -
Defeat in New York
Vastly outnumbered untrained recruits with poor equipment, the battle for New York ended with an American retreat. -
Defeat in New York
Michael Graham from the Continental Army describes the chaotic withdrawal from New York. -
Battle of Trenton
Washington led 2,400 men in small rowboats across the ice-choked Delaware River. In a surprise attack, the Americans killed 30 of the enemy and took 918 captives and six Hessian cannons. -
Battle of Trenton
Terms of Washington's soldiers were due to end this day. -
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Fight for Philadelphia
General Howe began his campaign to seize the American capital at Philadelphia. -
Fight for Philadelphia
Howe's troops sailed from New York and landed near the capital in late August -
Victory at Saratoga
Burgoyne surrendered his battered army to General Gates after masses American troops surrounded him at Saratoga. -
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Valley Forge
The site of the continental army's camp during the winter of 1777-1778. Marked a low point for General Washington's troops, but the Americans' hopes of winning began to improve. -
European Allies Shift the Balance
Friedrich von Steuben a Prussian captain and drill master, volunteered to train American troops. -
Turning Point
French recognized American independence and signed an alliance. -
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The British Move South
British change their military strategies and start heading south. -
Early British Success in the South
British expedition took Savannah, Georgia. -
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Lafayette and the French
Marquis de Lafayette volunteered his services and led a command in Virginia in the last years of the war. -
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Early British Success in the South
Royal governor once again commanded Georgia. -
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Early British Success in the South
General Henry Clinton replaced Howe in New York along with General Charles Cornwallis sailed south with 8,500 men. -
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British Surrender at Yorktown
French army of 6,000 landed in Newport, Rhode Island, after British left the city to focus on the south. -
Early British Success in the South
British capture Charles Town, South Carolina and marched 5,000 American soldiers off as prisoners of war. -
Early British Success in the South
Cornwallis's army smashed American forces at Camden, South Carolina and British established forts across the state. Patriot bands attacked them and cut communication lines when they advanced into North Carolina. -
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Financing the War
Congress made Robert Morris from Philadelphia a superintendent of finance. -
British Losses in 1781
Forces met at Cowpens, South Carolina, the British expected outnumbered Americans to flee; but the Army fought back, and forced redcoats to surrender. -
British Losses in 1781
Cornwallis attacked Greene at Guilford Court House, North Carolina and won. -
British Losses in 1781
Greene wrote a letter to Lafayette, asking for help. -
Financing the War
Troops were finally paid due to the efforts of Morris and Salomon. -
Victory at Yorktown
Outnumbered and exhausted from constant shelling, Cornwallis raised flag of surrender. -
Victory at Yorktown
French and Americans accept the British surrender. -
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Seeking Peace
Peace Treaty -
Seeking Peace
Delegates signed Treaty of Paris, which confirmed U.S. Independence and set boundaries of the new nation.
