Battles and Events of the War

Strong leader in George Washington Familiar with the land Guerrilla warfare tactics French alliance

Little money Small military Small, weak navy Weak central Government

Not as familiar with the territory Out-dated style of fighting Far from home

Surprise Attack on Christmas Night, 1776 Washington and his troops cause chaos among the Hessians Americans find needed food and supplies

After Washington’s secret crossing Again surprises Hessians- mercenaries hired by the British Major, inspirational victory for the Continental Army

Battle of Brandywine Also called the Battle of Brandywine Creek Britain’s plan was to cut New England off from the rest of the colonies The British won the Battle of Brandywine Creek but the Americans escaped without serious casualties

Benjamin Franklin at the Court of France. I LOVE Paris, France!!! !!

Valley Forge--Washington & Lafayette. Winter

Here’s how Lafayette described the conditions at Valley Forge- “The unfortunate soldiers were in want of everything; they had neither coats, nor hats, nor shirts, nor shoes; their feet and legs froze till they grew black and it was often necessary to amputate them……. The Army frequently passed whole days without food”.

War in the South - The British moved the fighting to the South after France entered the war in an attempt to gain southern Loyalist Benedict Arnold - Arnold was an American general who secretly offered to turn over the fort at West Point to the British in exchange for money

Battle of Guilford Courthouse Considered a British Victory British commander General Charles Cornwallis tried to take the Carolinas American General Nathanial Greene’s forces continued to fight High number of casualties for the British (about 25%) British abandoned the fight for the Carolinas and moved to Virginia

Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, October 19, 1781, by which over 7,000 British and Hessians became prisoners.