The French provided much needed military and material support to the American colonists throughout the Revolutionary War. Without the French support, major victories like the Battle of Yorktown would likely have been impossible.

American colonists like George Washington were able to get an inside look at British military tactics in North America during the French and Indian War. These insights helped prepare a generation of soldiers and leaders who would be called upon to fight against the British in the Revolutionary War two decades later.

The fact that the Americans did not have to transport personnel and equipment across the Atlantic Ocean was a clear advantage over their British opponents. The comfort and familiarity with the territory also proved beneficial to American forces who were more apt to use environmental tactics like guerrilla warfare than the classically trained British army.

Loyalists, or Tories, were colonists who chose to remain loyal to Britain. They chose to do so for various reasons including religious loyalties, their jobs, security, and plain indifference.

The Minutemen were typically the best members of their local militias. Their ability to be ready at a minute’s notice earned them their famous moniker. While they were initially formed to help with local skirmishes and conflicts with Native Americans, the Minutemen would prove to be a crucial part of the colonial force in the early parts of the Revolutionary War.

The Battles of Lexington and Concord were the first battles of the Revolutionary War. The Battle of Lexington was really just a skirmish that occurred as the British troops were marching towards Concord to capture and destroy rebel military supplies. One British soldier was wounded and eight colonists were killed before they dispersed.

Despite the loss, the Battle of Bunker Hill made it clear that the inexperienced American militia was able to stand up to regular army troops in battle. If not for a lack of ammunition, it is likely the colonial forces could have successfully defended the uphill British assault.

Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain Boys from Vermont were able to infiltrate and capture Fort Ticonderoga without firing a shot. The fort’s crucial location at the base of Lake Champlain combined with its 59 pieces of artillery made it a worthy prize. The victory also helped embolden the colonists’ faith that an ultimate victory over Britain was feasible.

The winter of 1777–1778 was a miserable time for the Continental Army. Washington had a difficult time keeping his troops fed, clothed, and intact.

The Hessians, despite having stronger military training than the colonists they were fighting against, were not highly effective combatants for the British. The Hessians were little more than guns-for-hire and had little at stake in the conflict they were being paid to fight in. Washington would exploit their lack of focus in his Christmastime attack on Trenton.

The Battle of Saratoga was a monumental victory for the colonial forces. After heavy fighting and a courageous assault led by Benedict Arnold, British General John Burgoyne's forces were trapped, and he surrendered to the Americans. The British surrender convinced the French to enter the war as an American ally, which marked a major turning point in the war.

At Saratoga the Americans were able to win a large-scale battle by employing sound military tactics and strategies. This win demonstrated to France and the world that the Continental Army could go toe-to-toe with the most powerful army in the world and win. The resulting international support would be crucial for the Americans in their continued fight against the British.

The surrender at Charleston was one of the worst American defeats of the war. Britain captured the city along with thousands of soldiers, hundreds of pieces of artillery, and thousands of muskets. This led to a period of British dominance in the Southern colonies.

While there were some minor skirmishes that followed the Battle of Yorktown, the American victory convinced Parliament to end the war with the American colonies.

Yorktown was a masterful plan that was masterfully executed. Washington decided to redirect his focus from New York City and instead focus on the British stronghold of Yorktown, Virginia. By enlisting the help of the French army and navy, Washington was able to attack Yorktown with superior numbers and positioning. The victory would mark the end of British willingness to continue the war.

Virginia’s Lord Dunmore was able to stir up African American support for the British cause with a promise of freedom. African Americans disproportionately joined the British side compared to colonial side. This was a cunning move as it hurt the colonial economies and bolstered the British army at the same time.

Following the approval of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the American colonies were officially free from British control and began to set about defining the means by which the 13 states would govern themselves.

Early in the war, Washington faced a trail of defeats and a Continental Army struggling to maintain morale and numbers. Washington’s leadership through these tough times is credited with being one of the key components leading to an eventual American victory. This would also be one of the arguments made in favor of his eventual nomination as America’s first president.

Following the British withdrawal from New York City in the fall of 1783, Washington submitted his resignation to the Continental Congress and went home to his plantation in Virginia. Ironically, following the success of the American Revolution, future President Washington was vocal about his desire to be done with public life.

Washington’s parting act as General helped ensure the Continental Army did not collapse. Even though the war was won, Washington knew that the new nation would be particularly vulnerable to attack in the coming years; a strong army would need to remain in place to maintain the freedom that they had all fought so hard for.