As you plan to develop WRRR-related activities, publications, publicity,
and events for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, please
take a few moments to review what was done during the 225th anniversary.
Click on the blue underlined link-tags for activities during the 225th.
Note: Italic font is used for events not commemorated during the 225th. Historical information on French relations with the United States may be found in the ![]() 2000 - 1775 Dec - Franklin meets Bonvouloir in Philadelphia 2001 - 1776 April - Silas Dean goes to France to seek aid . . . . . . 1776 Aug - Thaddeus Kosciuszko arrives to design fortifications . . . . . . 1776 Dec - Benjamin Franklin arrives in France to seek aid 2002 - 1777 Oct - Victory at Saratoga convinces France we can win . . . . . . 1777 Feb - Louis du Portail arrives to design fortifications . . . . . . . . . . . Arthur Lee arrives in Spain to seek aid . . . . . . 1777 March - French munitions purchased by U.S. arrive . . . . . . . . . . . in Portsmouth NH and also in Philadelphia PA . . . . . . 1777 April - Lafayette and Kalb secretly leave France to aid the U.S. revolt . . . . . . 1777 Sept - Lafayette wounded in rear-guard action at Brandywine PA 2003 - 1778 Feb - France / U.S. Treaties of Amity, Commerce, Military . . . . . . 1778 Feb - Steuben arrives to train the Continental Army . . . . . . 1778 April - John Adams arrives in Paris to seek aid. . . . . . . . . . . . Adm. d'Estaing's fleet leaves for the U.S. . . . . . . 1778 June - British evacuate Philadelphia to avoid siege by d'Estaing . . . . . . 1778 Aug - d'Etaing and Continentals attack British-held Newport RI 2004 - 1779 April - Spain and France sign treaty of alliance against Britain . . . . . . . . . . .and begin troop training to invade England. . . . . . . 2004 June - Lee Patrick Anderson explores full-trail hike . . . . . . 1779 Sept - Epidemic of dysentery halts plan for invasion of England. . . . . . . . . . . . Conrad Gèrard, first French Ambassador to the U.S., arrives. . . . . . . . . . . . U.S.-French squadron under John Paul Jones sinks British Serapis . . . . . . 1779 Oct - d'Estaing's force with Haitian regt repulsed from Savannah GA. . . . . . . 1779 Dec - d'Estaing's fleet arrives back in France. 2005 - 1780 April - Lafayette tells Washington of French army's coming . . . . . . 1780 July - John Adams moves to Holland to seek aid . . . . . . . . . . .Gen. Rochambeau arrives at Newport RI with French army . . . . . . . . . . .British navy blockades Newport RI for several months. 2006 - 1781 Jan - French ship-of-the-line helps clear British blockade from Newport . . . . . . 1781 Feb - Fort St. Joseph captured by French Capt. Eugene Poure . . . . . . 1781 March - Destouche's fleet blocked from Chesapeake Bay by British . . . . . . . . . . .de Grasse' fleet leaves Brest, France for the Caribbean . . . . . . 1781 May - Allied Spanish-French siege of Pensacola FL succeeds . . . . . . 1781 June - morel French troops arrive at Boston to join Rochanbeau . . . . . . . . . . . French troops march Newport RI to Peekskill NY . . . . . . 2006 June - Americas March to Yorktown (full-route) summary . . . . . . 1781 July - allied armies march / boat to Williamsburg VA . . . . . . 1781 Aug - de Grasse gets gold for Congress from Spanish in Cuba . . . . . . . . . . .and sails to the Chesapeake Bay with additional troops . . . . . . 1781 Sept - French fleet blockading Chesapeake fights off British. . . . . . . . . . . .French squadron with siege guns arrives near WIlliamsburg . . . . . . 2006 October - 225th Commemorations in Yorktown VA . . . . . . . . . . . News of victory is sent to Philadelphia and Paris . . . . . . 1781 Nov - de Grasse' forces return to the Caribbean . . . . . . . . . . . Continental army marches north to Peekskill NY 2007 - 1782 April: The Netherlands recognizes and makes loan to the U.S. . . . . . . 1782 July - French Army marches north from VA to Baltimore MD. . . . . . . 1782 Aug - After a month the French Army marches north to Peekskill NY. . . . . . . 1782 Oct - After a month the French Army marches east to Boston MA. . . . . . . 1782 Dec - French Army embarks from Boston for the Caribbean. . . . . . . . . . . . Preliminary Articles of Peace (U.S. and Britain only) are signed 2008 - 1783 Jan: Preliminary Articles of Peace (all parties) are signed in Paris . . . . . . 1783 March - British nearly capture French gold shipment to U.S. off FL . . . . . . 1783 May - Last French troops depart from Wilmington DE . . . . . . 1783 Sept - Final Articles of Peace are signed in Paris . . . . . . 1783 Nov - Last British troops depart from New York, NY 2009 - 1784 May - the Peace Articles signed by all parties are exchanged in Paris. |