May 12 1780:
British capture Charleston, SC
In 1779, General Henry Clinton planned to attack on the Southern colonies. This was largely encouraged by a belief that Loyalist support in the region was strong and would facilitate its recapture. Clinton had attempted to capture Charleston, SC in June 1776, but his plan failed. The defeat at Charleston was a disaster for American forces in the South and saw the elimination of the Continental Army in the region. The surrender at Charleston ranks as the US Army's third largest surrenders.
Charleston remained under British control until they evacuated it in 1782 due to the imminent Treaty of Paris.
Charleston remained under British control until they evacuated it in 1782 due to the imminent Treaty of Paris.
June 20 1780:
Patriots rout Tories at Ramseur's Mill, NC
With the surrender of Charles Towne (modern day Charleston, S.C.) on May 12, 1780, Lord Charles Cornwallis controlled South Carolina and Georgia.
Colonel John Moore and Major Nicholas Welch, two American Loyalists led the first British attack on the North Carolina colony.The battle lasted for nearly two hours between the Patriots and Loyalists.
The Patriot victory at Ramsour’s Mill, although poorly coordinated, left Cornwallis stricken for recruits when he later invaded the western section of North Carolina.
Colonel John Moore and Major Nicholas Welch, two American Loyalists led the first British attack on the North Carolina colony.The battle lasted for nearly two hours between the Patriots and Loyalists.
The Patriot victory at Ramsour’s Mill, although poorly coordinated, left Cornwallis stricken for recruits when he later invaded the western section of North Carolina.
July 11 1780:
French troops arrive at Newport, RI,
to aid the American cause
In the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), France fought alongside the United States, against Britain, from 1778. French money, munitions, soldiers and naval forces proved essential to America's victory over the Crown, but France gained little except large debts.
August 6 1780:
Patriots defeat Tories at Hanging Rock, SC
Early in 1780 Davie raised and equipped a cavalry troop, largely with his own money, and assumed command of it. He soon gained a reputation as a daring and capable commander in the fierce fighting that convulsed the Carolina back country. The British campaign depended upon the support of loyalists—Tories—to succeed, and the Patriots directed a major fraction of their efforts towards discouraging loyalist participation. On August 1, 1780, Davie attacked and defeated three companies of Tories in a ragged action, and a few days later joined Gen. Thomas Sumter to inflict yet another stinging defeat upon the Tories at Hanging Rock, S.C. As the Patriots gained the upper hand over the Tories, regular British units operating in the area found it increasingly difficult to secure supplies and intelligence. Much of the action was guerrilla in nature: skirmishes, ambushes and raids, with an embarrassing frequency of arson, robbery, murder and atrocity on both sides.
Oct. 14 1780:
Washington names Nathanael Greene commander of the Southern Army
He became the youngest officer promoted to major general in the Continental Army. Greene was one of Washington’s closest confidants and respected commanders throughout the war. As commander of the Southern Army, he performed remarkably, and proved himself a genius of strategy and logistics. His command of American forces directly led to the British defeat at Yorktown in 1781, and therefore ultimately to American independence.
January 1, 1781:
Mutiny of unpaid Pennsylvania soldiers
the Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 (also known as the Philadelphia Mutiny) was an anti-government protest by nearly 400 soldiers of theContinental Army in June 1783. The mutiny, And the refusal of the Executive Council of Pennsylvania to stop it, ultimately resulted in Congress vacating Philadelphia and the creation of a federal district to serve as the national capital.
March 2 1781:
Articles of Confeseration were adopted
On March 2, 1781, following final ratification by the 13th state, the Articles of Confederation became the law of the land.
Less than five years after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, enough leading Americans decided that the system was inadequate to the task of governance that they peacefully overthrew their second government in just over 20 years. The difference between a collection of sovereign states forming a confederation and a federal government created by a sovereign people lay at the heart of debate as the new American people decided what form their new government would take.
Less than five years after the ratification of the Articles of Confederation, enough leading Americans decided that the system was inadequate to the task of governance that they peacefully overthrew their second government in just over 20 years. The difference between a collection of sovereign states forming a confederation and a federal government created by a sovereign people lay at the heart of debate as the new American people decided what form their new government would take.
June 18 1781:
British hold off Americans at Ninety Six, SC
Greene set siege to Ninety-Six in May of 1781, but never took the fort. He was forced to lift the siege a month later as British reinforcements advanced toward Ninety-Six. The British abandoned Ninety-Six in July and moved back to the coast, just as the Patriots had wanted. This signaled the end of British control of the interior. The Southern Campaign was over. British forces surrendered at Yorktown four months later, effectively ending the war.
November 30 1782:
British and Americans sign preliminary Articles of Peace
The Americans suspected the worst: that France and England were beginning preliminary peace talks and cutting out the Americans.
Their fears were well-founded. France’s finances were running low from fighting wars with so many different European powers that it wanted to get out of the American war with Britain. In turn, the American envoy let the British know that they were willing to negotiate unilaterally, and after months of negotiations, the British and American diplomats signed the Preliminary Articles of Peace on November 30, 1782.
Their fears were well-founded. France’s finances were running low from fighting wars with so many different European powers that it wanted to get out of the American war with Britain. In turn, the American envoy let the British know that they were willing to negotiate unilaterally, and after months of negotiations, the British and American diplomats signed the Preliminary Articles of Peace on November 30, 1782.