WRRR Historic Events during 1775-1783 and
Activities during the 225th Anniversary

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 History of Aid section of this website. 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.