Student Artists and Authors: Jon C. , Alyssa T. and Matt M.

In the summer of 1776, George Washington and the Continental army had to retreat from Brooklyn because the British were coming nearer and nearer.  The Continental army had to get out of Brooklyn or else the British would capture them.  The only thing that was keeping the British from capturing the Continental army was the fog on Long Island.  One night, Washington's army snuck out of Brooklyn unnoticed.  They followed a rope in boats that led from Brooklyn to Manhattan Island.  Every soldier escaped from the British by crossing the Delaware River.  After the retreat from Brooklyn, the Continental army moved to New Jersey.  In New Jersey, Washington and his army won important battles, the battle of Trenton and the battle of Princeton.  Although, victory was far from being won.

In December of 1777, Washington set up camp  and headquarters at Valley Forge.  That winter at Valley Forge almost destroyed George Washington's army.  The Patriots had declared independence, but the army was in no shape to win it.  Friedrich van Steuben drilled the army so the soldiers would be ready to move quickly.  In the meantime, other countries to help them in the war.  The French didn't help the Americans until after they won the battle of Saratoga.  This battle showed the French that they had a chance of winning the war.  The Spanish sent guns, food, and money to the Patriots.  In the late summer of 1781, British General Charles Cornwallis had set up his army at Yorktown.  It was easy for him to get supplies from Great Britain.  The French and the Continental army moved quickly and defeated the British at Yorktown.  Cornwallis surrendered and the British marched out of the colonies.  This battle didn't win the war.  The British sent Richard Oswald and the Americans sent Benjamin Franklin to Paris to discuss a treaty.  This treaty became known as the Treaty of Paris.  Now the Americans had won the war.