1. Chapter 4: Independence
Section 4: An American Victory
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2. An American Victory:
The Battle of Trenton:
The British felt the war was almost won so General Howe prepared to celebrate Christmas in New York;
Washington ignored the customary holiday halt in fighting on Christmas and attacked the British crossing the ice-choked Delaware River

3. An American Victory:
The Battle of Trenton:
Was not a clear-cut victory for the Patriots but their fighting greatly raised the MORALE of the Patriots

4. An American Victory:
British disaster at Saratoga:
British General “Gentleman Johnny” Burgoyne devised a plan: three separate British forces would converge at Albany, New York. The British did not realize – or ignored – that their lines of attack crossed many lakes, swamps, hills, and forests in areas filled with Patriots.
Burgoyne and the British clash with the Patriots and General Horatio Gates in the Battle of Saratoga and the British surrendered

5. An American Victory:
European Powers Provide Aid: Encourage by Patriot victories the French – who had been secretly aiding the Patriots – agreed to sign a formal alliance with the United States
French aid provided Americans with gold, naval support, supplies, and troops
France also declared war on Great Britain
Spain and the Netherlands also joined the Patriots in their cause

6. An American Victory:
Patriots used guerrilla warfare – wearing down the enemy in hit-and-run battles

7. General Cornwallis (English General) surrendered.
THE PATRIOTS EMERGE VICTORIOUS
The British surrendered their weapons at the Battle of Yorktown – October 19, 1781
General Cornwallis (English General) surrendered.

8. TREATY OF PARIS
The Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, It granted the United States Independence and the land from the Atlantic coast westward to the Mississippi River and from the Great Lakes to Florida
The Treaty declared that Americans should pay any debts owed to the British