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Considering the French lost to the British in the French and Indian War, they wanted to find a way to get back at them. By taking sides with the Patriots, they secretly supplied them with weapons to help them defeat British forces.
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As the British left Boston, they moved the war to the middle states. This was a tactic of theirs to end the rebellion and isolate New England.
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Brothers William and Richard Howe joined their British forces on Staten Island. Their force of 32,000 men sailed into New York harbor. Outnumbering Washington's army, the British took control and defeated the untrained recruits in late August.
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Following the loss of George Washington and his army, they retreated from New York.
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The British were able to push Washington and his army across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. However, Washington's army now only consisted of fewer than 8,000 men.
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General Washington and 2,300 of his men crossed the cold waters of the Delaware River into New Jersey. Their plan was to then march into Trenton and take over the Hessian's by surprise.
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After marching nine miles into Trenton, Washington's army defeated the unaware Hessian's in a surprise attack. Nearly all of them were taken captive except for 30 of them who were killed. Six Hessian cannons were also taken.
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The Americans claimed another victory just eight days later in Princeton, New Jersey. By defeating 1,200 British soldiers, the Americans started to get on track.
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General Howe's goal was to take over America's capital(Philadelphia). Howe and his troops moved in as the Continental Congress moved out. Washington's army failed to stop the redcoats and Howe took Philadelphia surrounded by his fellow Loyalists.
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At the Battle of Saratoga, general Burgoyne led a large army but food supplies eventually ran low. A large amount of Americans surrounded Burgoyne and his army in Saratoga, where he surrendered to General Gates. This would impact the British's war strategies from now on.
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George Washington and his Continental Army stay at Valley Forge over the Winter. They lost much men, supplies, and hope. Many starved to death or of frost bite. This continued until the Winters end.
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Strict drillmaster Friedrich Von Steuben volunteered his time by working with Washington's Continental Army. He shaped the hopeless army into an effective fighting force.
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After the Americans won the battle of Saratoga, the French agreed to show support in the Revolution. They then signed an alliance of cooperation with the Americans. They agreed that France was not allowed to make peace with Britain unless Britain also recognized American Independence.
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Due to the outcome at Saratoga, the British were ready to come back with a better military strategy. Planning to move south, the British focused on reclaiming their colonies and gathering Loyalist support.
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The British invaded Savannah, Georgia taking it over with ease. The new British war strategy was proven to be successful so far.
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After the British took Savannah, Georgia soon fell all together. Georgia was then commanded by royal governer like it was once before.
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Due to the results of the winter at Valley Forge, the young military leader Marquis de Lafayette joined Washington's troops. He also called for reinforcements in France to help. Lafayette would eventually lead a command in Virginia later on.
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Along with 8,500 men, General Charles Cornwallis and Henry Clinton sailed south in hope to take back more land.
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Marching 5,500 American troops off as prisoners, the British achieved a huge victory for them. Taking Charles Town, South Carolina was a great victory for them.
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As the British focused on the South, a French army of 6,000 landed in Newport, Rhode Island. Marquis de Lafayette brainstormed a strategy to join the American and French forces and fleets to attack the British in Yorktown.
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Cornwallis and his army then invaded Camden, South Carolina. They took a huge victory as they took over the American troops with great force.
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After the American defeat in Camden, the British quickly set up forts across the state within a few months. This would strengthen the British's hold of South Carolina.
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The forces of Daniel Morgan and Banastre Tarleton met in Cowpens, South Carolina. the British expected the Americans to surrender as the British outnumbered them. Surprisingly, the Continental Army fought back and took the victory as the opposing redcoats surrendered.
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Cornwallis was furious as his troops lost in Cowpens, so he decided to attack Greene and his army at Guilford Court House, North Carolina. Although Cornwallis won the battle, his army took the biggest lost of over 500 men. Greene's army had weakened the British now.
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Wealthy merchant Robert Morris was named superintendent of finance by Congress for the Continental Army. Him and his associate, Haym Salomon raised money to provide salaries for the army.
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After the hardworking efforts of Morris and Salomon, the army was finally paid for their duties. This pay came in specie or gold coin.
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After fighting for three weeks, Cornwallis's army was outnumbered by nearly two to one. Surrounded by American and French forces, Cornwallis surrenders marking the end of the American Revolution.
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Marking the end of the American Revolution, the French and Americans defeated the British in Yorktown. After being surrounded on the peninsula, Cornwallis waved the white flag.
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Washington and the French Generals gathered to accept the British surrender. The British troops laid down their weapons and General Charles O'Hara handed his sword over.
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John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay were chosen as negotiators. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris was signed confirming U.S independence and boundaries of the new nation. However some of the treaty's promises were soon to be broken.
