American Revolution

Battle of Saratoga

• Historians consider the Battle of Saratoga to be the major turning point of the American Revolution. This battle proved to the world that the fledgling American army was an effective fighting force capable of defeating the highly trained British forces in a major confrontation. As a result of this successful battle, the European powers, particularly the French, took interest in the cause of the Americans and began to support them.

Treaty of Paris

• By the Treaty of Paris of Sept. 3, 1783, Great Britain formally acknowledged the independence of the United States, and the warring European powers, Britain against France and Spain, with the Dutch as armed neutrals, effected a large-scale peace settlement. The preliminary Anglo-American articles were signed on Nov. 30, 1782, after months of tortuous negotiations, in which John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, acquitted themselves so well that their achievement has been labeled the greatest triumph in the history of American diplomacy.

Battle of Yorktown

• In August 1781, General George Washington learned that Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis' army was encamped near Yorktown, VA. After discussing options with his French ally, Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Ponton de Rochambeau, Washington decided to quietly move his army away from New York City with the goal of crushing Cornwallis' isolated force.

Declaration of Independence

• WHEN, in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume, among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's GOD entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the Causes which impel them to the Separation.

Winter at Valley Forge

• The men at Valley Forge spent much of their time drilling to improve their fighting skills. Baron Friedrich von Steuben, a military officer from Prussia, joined Washington and helped to train the troops. He developed a manual of arms which provided outlined drills and other training information used by the soldiers. The Continental Army emerged from Valley Forge a much more disciplined and stronger fighting force.

American Revolution Video

Resources

• http://www.americanrevolution.com/

• http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/americanrevolutio1/p/yorktown.htm

• http://militaryhistory.about.com/od/battleswars16011800/p/valleyforge.htm