1. The Final Years

2. Waiting for Allies French were very slow getting to the colonies
Colonists wondered if French were every going to actually come

3. Help Arrives! 1780 first French fleet arrived at Rhode Island
They come with thousands of troops commanded by Comte de Rochambeau
Joins with Washington near New York City and waited for second French fleet
Instead of landing in the North, 2nd Fleet lands in the South at Yorktown

4. Washington marches for Yorktown
Washington had previously sent Lafayette to stop Cornwallis
Lafayette cornered Cornwallis in Yorktown
Washington and Rochambeau rush South to meet the 2nd French Fleet
Washington was able to sneak around New York without British knowing
Not even the soldiers knew where they were going
So it was Lafayette, Washington, Rochambeau, and 2nd French Fleet armies against Cornwallis

5. Trap in Yorktown Washington’s was a huge success
14,000 Patriot troops vs 8,000 British troops
French fleet blockaded Yorktown
British General Clinton sat helpless in New York
Americans and French siege Yorktown

6. Victory British ran low on supplies due to the siege
Washington’s aide, Alexander Hamilton, led a raid on British defenses
Cornwallis knew the situation was hopeless
October 19, 1781 Cornwallis surrenders

7. Independence Achieved
Victory at Yorktown essentially ends the war
British and Americans send delegates to Paris to write a treaty
Americans send Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay
Treaty of Paris is ratified by Congress in April 1783 (final copy of treaty signed September 3, 1783)

8. Treaty of Paris
British recognized the United States as an independent nation
British promised to take all troops out of American territory
British gave America fishing rights to the waters off the coast of Canada (to benefit the New England fishermen, where John Adams was from)
United States promised that Americans would pay British merchants what they owed
Congress would advise the new states to return property taken from Loyalists

9. A Conspiracy Against Congress
There was a lot of time between the end of fighting and the signing of the peace treaty
Washington refused to dissolve the army
The army also felt they deserved pay for this time from Congress
When payment did not come, officers plotted to overthrow Congress if they would not get paid
This could have destroyed the new nation!
Washington heard about this plan and made a speech asking the officers to be patient
Congress does pay the soldiers and Washington saves the new nation from crumbling

10. Washington goes home
November 1783 the last of the British troops left New York City
Washington dissolves the army and the soldiers go home
December 4, Washington resigned his position
Washington then went home to Mount Vernon, VA expecting to never have to get involved in government or military life again

11. The War is Over