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| 1777–78 |
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| Winter suffering of Washington's army at Valley Forge. Unsuccessful attempt of the Conway Cabal to remove Washington from command. | 1 |
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| 1777, Nov. 15 |
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| ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION and perpetual union agreed upon in Congress. These provided for a confederacy to be known as the United States of America and were sent to the states for ratification. | 2 |
| Burgoyne's defeat and surrender stirred France to action in support of the United States. | 3 |
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| 1778, Feb. 6 |
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| After supplying secret aid in money and supplies to the Americans for two years, France signed treaties of Commerce and Alliance with the United States. Marquis Marie Joseph de Lafayette and Baron Johann de Kalb had arrived the previous summer to offer their services. | 4 |
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| Feb. 17 |
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| Lord North presented to Parliament his plan for conciliating the Americans, which included renunciation of the right of taxation. Commissioners sent to the United States with a peace offer, which was rejected by Congress (June 17). With the French alliance an assured fact, only independence would now satisfy the Americans. | 5 |
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| June 18 |
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| Evacuation of Philadelphia by Sir Henry Clinton, who started to march across New Jersey. | 6 |
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| June 28 |
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| Washington won the Battle of Monmouth (New Jersey). | 7 |
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| July 4 |
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| Wyoming massacre in Pennsylvania. | 8 |
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| Nov. 11 |
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| Massacre of Cherry Valley in New York. | 9 |
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