Nine months in Yorktown was made possible by Arthur J. Glatfelter, the Freeze Foundation, Glad Filter Insurance Group, the Kinsley Foundation, Susquehanna Photographed Company and by the Thomas and Frances Wolff Fund of York Foundation.

It was the summer of 1777, and for over two years American colonists had been figh for their independence from England.

Only 14 months had passed since the signing of the Declara of Independence.

Brave continental troops under the command of Gene Washington repeatedly engaged King George's army throughout the northern colonies In Philadelphia.

Delegates to the Continental Con were struggling to draft a legal that would unite the 13 autonomous colonies as a country free and independent of British There was really only one ally on the continent of Europe, whose help could be of major importance in winning the revolution by order of Congress.

Benjamin Franklin had been sent to forge an alliance and gain vital support for the American rebellion.

British had a very mighty army and was well organized, and so the Americans knew that they needed help to win the war.

Back in America, rumors shook the delegates in Philadelp The British fleet was in the Chesapeake Bay.

King George's troops would soon march inland.

Realizing that the city was a likely targe for the British forces.

General Washington stationed his to the southwest near the Brandy to await the British advance.

This ragtag volunteer army would be the last line of defens between the King's soldiers and America's capital c 100 miles west of Philadelphia was the village of Pennsylvania.

Yorktown offered few of the conv enjoyed by the dignitaries and socialites of Philadelphia a But it did have one advantage over the larger city.

It was safe from the British.

An Yorktown was a staging area for traders and settlers heading deeper into America's back country.

It was laid out on the Monopoly an Indian trail that led from the Susquehanna Ri down to Maryland and points sout 19th century folk artist Louis Miller filled sketchbooks with impressions of York towns, people and places New York was a fairly small town It was kind of on the frontier, but it really wasn't that isolat There were gunsmiths, there were silversmiths, there were breeches makers.

There were, tailors.

There were shoemakers.

It was a very ambitious community, primarily agricultural and, some, some artisan craftsmen activity, pretty much a traditional German setting.

Little did the people of Yorktow know that soon.

Some of the wealthiest and most powerful men in all of the colonies would descend on their tiny comm And for the next nine months, the events that occurred while the Continental Congress h session there, would lay the fou for a new nation.

At 4 a.m.

on September 19th.

Henry Lawrence, a delegate from Carolina, was startled awake in his Philadelphia home with ne that the British would soon cross the school, kill River, and captured the city.

Earlier that summer, Congress ha that if delegates were forced to Philadelphia, they would meet ag Outside, Laurens could hear that the streets were alive with acti The delegates of the Continental were well aware of the fact that committed treason by supporting the rebel patriot movement.

They were potentially guilty of a treasonous act that could be punished through their execution.

To elude the British Army.

Laurens, like many of the other made his way to Lancaster by an indirect route.

Traveling north along the Delawa He picked up the Marquis de Lafa a French nobleman, earlier that year.

Lafayette had presented himself to Congress with other French of offering to fight for the Americ Since then, Laurens and Lafayette had become friends This illustrious stranger, whose address and manner bespeak his birth, will have a short cam and then probably return to Fran and secure to us the powerful in of his high and extensive connec Henry Laurens, South Carolina.

Laurens was an important piece i he represented a critical area in the South South Carolina.

He was an emerging leader.

I wouldn't call him a prominent first line leader at that point, but he was an emerging leader an an emerging power in the South.

Lafayette was a French nobleman, French nobleman, about 20 years at this point.

He was very eager, very ambitiou He, like many European noblemen, was looking to make his mark and saw in the American Revoluti an opportunity to do that.

Congress had given Lafayette a commission in the Continental and assigned him to Washington's He had fought bravely at Brandyw where he received a wound in the leg.

Until he could recuperate.

Lafayette would stay in Bethlehe Laurens continued on to Lancaste When they arrived in Lancaster, Laurens and the other delegates found th not only was there no place to l there was nowhere for the continental Congress to Officials from Pennsylvania's state government, who had also r evacuated from Philadelphia, now occupied Lancaster's courthouse.

Delegates began to fear that having both the Congress and Pen state leaders in a town so close to Philadelphia would create a tempting target for the British.

The Continental Congress had to another refuge.

25 miles to the west.

On the other side of the Susquehanna River.

There was a village with a court well suited to the needs of Cong The additional distance from Philadelphia was also appea The village was Yorktown, York.

As far as places to accommodate that many people might have been.

About the only place left, unless they were going to go somewhere in Virginia.

One of the main attractions was the Susquehanna River, which was a mile wide river that would keep the British, pretty much at bay, or at least give a good warning if the British were to come acro It was also a four day march fro Philadelphia, and so that would plenty of lead time to know that the British were co And another point is that they h it was a major crossroads commun And so they knew they can go ske in any direction.

They really needed to, to get away from the British There.

While a few English immigrants, free blacks and slaves lived in the majority of the population was of Scots-Irish and German de The people of this country are chiefly Germ who have schools in their own la as well as prayers, psalms, and so that the multitudes are born, grow up, and die here without ever learning English.

John Adams, Massachusetts.

Since the beginning of the war, most men had enlisted for the de of the country in their absence.

Farms and businesses were left u Family finances suffered.

Residents of Yorktown saw the ar of the delegates as a financial New customers meant new money coming into their stressed local Business was hurting and what business there was.

We had to be run by people who w used to running the businesses.

And so, at first it was it was believed that that would help a lot to have the Continental Congress They would have welcomed, the congressman coming to York.

But then on the other hand, they also would have had to spread their resources thinne So it was kind of, would have go ways here was a market for their But then, they also wanted to ha to support themselves.

Typically, the delegates would when they arrived in town, they would stay at a tavern.

But the food in that room and the board was tremendously e And so they would try to get to private residences as soon as th A man must pay $10 for glancing at a t and 10 or 12 shillings a night for his horse, gnawing o I cannot afford to tarry wear the same needlework which an industrious wife would gratis in an hour, to charge $5.

James Lovell, Massachusetts.

The travel weary delegates competed with soldiers, their own staffs, and each other for housing, food and supplies.

They often had to share small, expensive rooms with their staff or other congressional delegates All you knew of inconvenience of a delegate's life in Philadel or Baltimore was a shadow to wha this town produces.

I heartily desire to be in my ho Whenever I get there.

I shall, with pleasure, give up disagreeable and tiresome office Cornelius Harnett, North Carolin High prices and crowded conditions were only part of the inconvenie Many of the delegates had already been away from their and children for months before they moved to Yorktown.

John Hancock, president of the Continental Con and John Adams exchanged letters with their wives from Yorktown.

This is a pleasant town, and if with me, I should be very easy a But my intention is for Boston.

As soon as the campaign is over.

John Hancock, Massachusetts.

Abigail Adams wrote often to her husband John during their long separatio Tis almost 14 years since we wer but not more than half that time Have we had the happiness of living together?

The unfeeling world may consider what light they please.

I consider it is a sacrifice to my country.

Abigail Adams.

Morale sank as the delegates settled into their new surroundi Letters arrived from home with b The businesses from which the delegates at esta their wealth and power were suff and their absence.

Many of the southern delegates owned large plantations where operations relied heavily on slave labor.

Early in the war, the British governor of Virginia had offered freedom to any slave who would fight under the Britis Thousands of slaves had run away to the British lines, affecting throughout the South.

Many of the southern delegates were very concerned about, their and conditions back in the South by that time the slave populatio was becoming somewhat of a facto in the war.

Sorry.

A slave from Cornelius Harnett staff had run away from Harnett was convinced Sony also had headed east to see behind the British lines.

Despite the apparent poor state of affairs, Samuel Adams of Massachusetts recognized the importance of putting on a good face for th Gentlemen, the eyes of the pupil are upon u The tone of their feelings is regulated by ours.

If we, as delegates in Congress, give up in despair and grow desp public confidence will be destro and American liberty will be no Samuel Adams, Massachusetts.

On October 1st, the repeal of th summoned the delegates to meet in the York County Court for the first time.

Yorktown was now the functioning capital of the new republic.

In those days, the 13 colonies were like 13 different countries And so it would be like a repres from 13 different countries meeting and trying to agree on o And that's what the Continental was, was expected to do to find ways to to coordin the efforts of 13 independent and autonomous entities.

A very difficult task.

Less than four weeks after delegates arrived in they heard news of a great continental victory to the north.

According to the rumors, General John Burgoyne had surrendered his British forces to the Continental Army in Sarat New York.

Bells rang for hours in celebrat General Horatio Gates and his continental troops had just won the most significan victory of the war.

The continental forces under George Washington just weren't having a lot of suc against the British.

They were beaten badly in several battles, including the Battle of Brandywi So America very much needed a major win on the battle Congress was overjoyed at the at News of Saratoga.

It meant on one hand, it meant t after almost a year, the the Continental Army had a victory that they could that they could be proud of.

On October 17th, military ceremonies were held on the battlefield in to officially record the British surrender.

General gates dispatched a couri Lieutenant Colonel James Wilkins to deliver the official document of the surrender to the Continental Congress in Y Days went by, then a week, but neither Wilkinson nor the official documents arriv They had to wait for an official notice of the vi They knew what had happened, but they had to wait for official notice of the victo And that was probably an excruciating time for them, because they recognized that they needed French assistan They needed additional recruits.

They needed lots of things that this victory could help the But they couldn't announce it of until they had had that, official, you know, documentation.

It was of key importance for the United States of America to gain Without it, the chances of gaini victory and independence were re They took the victory at Saratoga, while the Second Continental Con was in York to persuade France to enter into a treaty of allian Nobody knew what happened to the News of the surrender had to get to France, but without Wilkinson and the of documents, Congress was unable t Each day the delegates grew more and more concerned.

We have been in a state of torme uncertainties.

We are out of patience.

It is impossible to beat the sus with any temper.

John Adams, Massachusetts.

The surrender of Burgoyne and his army receives credit, but it is unaccountable that Colonel Wilkinson.

The express has not arrived.

Surely he has fallen into the en hands, or has been very remiss.

Daniel.

Roberto.

Pennsylvania.

The British had not captured Wil The 20 year old courier had stop in eastern Pennsylvania to court his future bride.

There was another reason for Wilkinson's delay, a matter of intrigue that would the very leadership of General Washington himself.

From Easton, Wilkinson traveled to Redding, where he met his friend, General Thomas Mifflin, at a par That evening, Wilkinson casually revealed a letter to Mi In it, General Thomas Conway wrote of his desire to have gates replace Washington as the commander in chief.

What a pity.

There is but one.

Gates.

But the more I see of this army, I think it fit for general elect under its actual chiefs and actual discipline.

I speak to you sincerely and freely wish I could serve un General Thomas Conway.

Word of Conway's letter found its way to Washingt headquarters.

Washington, was a great symbol for the Continental Army, but he was not a particularly great strategist.

And by 1777, by November, October November 1777, there were those who were beginning to ques whether or not Washington was ca of putting together the kind of strategy that would needed to defeat the British Arm There were several other leading such as Benjamin Rush, who definitely, were impatient w Washington and they too, supported this unorganized movem but nevertheless still a real, s for replacing General Washington with General Gates.

Wilkinson finally arrived in Yorktown with the official do of the surrender.

It had taken him two four weeks to complete a journey that should have taken half that When Wilkinson did finally get t one of the delicates did, propos that he be awarded a pair of spu instead of, a medal or promotion In late October, John Hancock, p of the Continental Congress, ann he was stepping down from his po and leaving for Massachusetts because of his own failing healt and the need to attend to business affairs at home.

It was a terrible blow to the Co Not only was Hancock one of the political minds of his time, he was also one of the spiritual of the revolution.

Upon Hancock's departure, Congress voted in its next presi a reluctant Henry Laurens, the delegate from South Carolina, was elected to the off Laurens first action as president of Congress wants t a national day of Thanksgiving a celebration over the victory at The proclamation of Thanksgiving religious.

Thank you.

It was a thank you to Providence for giving them this victory.

It I don't think we can, emphasize what a miracle perhaps this would have seemed t they were getting so discouraged and then they had this victory.

They thought, we can do it.

November came, and the days grew Representatives of the 13 coloni continued to labor over the articles of Confederati The delegates of the several sta are exceedingly anxious to finish this business.

Many assert that the very salvat of these states depend on it, and that none of the European po will publicly acknowledge them, free and independent, until they are confederated.

Cornelius Harnett, North Carolin The Articles of Confederation were ultimately crucially import to the, to the war effort because they would create a leag friendship among the 13 autonomo which would enable those states in each other's resources in a common defense against the Likewise, the articles would dem to European nations, most notably the French, that, the American effort was, was gen and, and was an organized, defense of of their, their indep An early draft of the Articles of Confederation called for stat to pay taxes in proportion to th number of residents, including s Most of the slaves in the coloni lived in the South, where their labor was crucial to the region's economy.

Southern delegates argued that those slaves were pr not residents, and thus should n subject to taxation.

Southern delegates obviously wer very much defenders of slavery, and there were northern delegate in Pennsylvania, for instance, that, had begun to see slavery as a contradiction to the independenc that was going on.

Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, addressed the Con in this great business of forming our first common char We must yield a little to each o and not rigidly insist on having everything corresponded to our own partial On such basis, we would never be able to confed Lee offered a compromise.

Virginia would agree to pay more were based on land rather than p The idea one.

A final draft of the Articles of Confederation was close to co The upswing in public morale that followed the Saratoga surre was the perfect atmosphere for p the articles to the state legisl Time was of the essence.

You.

The delegates worked later and later into the evening hours Finally, on November 15th, roughly two months after the del first arrived in Yorktown.

The Articles of Confederation were complete.

The importance of the articles was the recognition of the United Colonies, the United States, as a sovereig Foreign countries wouldn't come America against the British until it was proven that the colonies could work tog That these 13 different countrie known as colonies, could work to The next step was to get ratific which meant 13 separate states with their own political and their own political tensions Would have to approve these.

This document and the articles before the arti in were truly ratified, were truly operational The rush for completion had left the articles far from p The document gave Congress autho to deal with a broad range of federal issues.

Congress could appoint military officers, oversee Indian relations, and control foreign affairs.

War and the Postal Service.

However, Congress did not have t to enforce its authority on the new nation.

Instead, it had to rely on the states to its decisions.

Copies of the Articles of Confed were sent to each of the states for approval.

Laurens and the other delegates knew the same issues that had di the Continental Congress would now divide state legislatu Hardly is it to be expected that any plan in the variety of essential to our union should exactly correspond with the maxims and political vi of every particular state.

This is proposed as the best which could be adapted to the circumstance of all, and as that alone, which affords any tolerable prospect of a general ratification.

Henry Laurens, particularly fascinating for us.

Messengers would take at least two weeks to carry the art and the accompanying letter from to the state legislatures of Geo and New Hampshire.

2 to 3 months would pass before the documents would reach Benjamin Franklin and the other commissioners in France.

Congressional concerns were grow Would the states ratify the arti or with the delegates have to renew their efforts?

Winter would bring more question than answers.

By November 1777, the American commissioners had been in France for nearly a Benjamin Franklin had instantly appealed to the ar His personal charm and keen unde of European protocol enabled him to make great strides toward ach an alliance with the French gove The two powers were England and which had been competing for fir in North America for a long time And after the French and Indian the French had lost out.

Here was an opportunity to come Enthusiasm for the Patriot cause but the French remained wary of public support to the colonial r The talks continued.

In the colonies.

Both the British and Continental began preparing for the cold days ahead.

Military tradition dictated that soldiers wait out months in quarters or camps, rather than on the bat Muddy and frozen roads hampered troop movements.

Food was in short supply, and the wet weather meant soggy The reality of war was that weather was an intangible that could not be dealt with, certainly as easily as we can to And, in battle.

You want do as few intangibles as possible.

You want it to be as predictable as possible.

The weather was not.

The winter weather was not somet that was predictable.

Soldiers, refugees and even pris continued to arrive in Yorktown by the monarch as he rode.

They faced the same scarcities o and lodging that had plagued the delegates in the fall, under the authority of Congress.

Many homes were seized for milit Some were used to store supplies while others were turned into mi hospitals.

A surgeon from the hospital and two officers called him, pre an order of the Board of War which authorized them to look fo which would be suitable for the accommodation of six sol They believed our combined house would answer the purpose.

But this sister Nizer opposed Brother Bader, Moravian Church m It wouldn't have only been the d who needed lodging, and most stayed in priv But also there would have been c There would have been, other boa for instance, the Board of War.

I believe Thomas Paine was on the committee of four of foreign correspondent So there were a lot of auxiliary It wasn't just a congressman.

Yorktown residents were not completely comfortable having their facilities, used and in some cases, confiscated b by the Continental Army, the Continental Army and the, and the Continental Congress.

And they likened it to the Briti regulars, British administrators coming into Boston or Philadelph and requiring usage of private d and private facilities in those Part of the reason for the revol was to oppose that kind of actio And now here in Yorktown, the the local residents saw some similar occurring in their commu on a smaller scale.

The high cost of living and the harshness of the winter brought a noticeable drop in the number of delegates attending the daily sessions of A number of delegates returned to their home colonies, health and family issues.

Others left simply because their congressional term had expired.

A few colonies sent replacements for the departing delegates.

To make matters worse, an intestinal problem caused by the high mineral conte of the local water supply was co many of the remaining delegates to their rooms.

The Congress at present is very thin of members.

However, I hope during this wint they will make a spirited exertion for the salvation of this contin Edward Langworthy, Georgia.

Sometime they got down to a doze or less running our country.

Henry Laurens, the president of said on a on a couple of occasions, we are on a precipice.

We are on a press.

We are on the edge.

Our country is on a precipice.

Laurens wrote to Washington, hoping to discuss the placement of the generals winter camp.

The delegates wanted Washington' troops located where they could easily protect from British raids.

By the time Washington received the letter, he and his had already settled in Valley Fo Continental Congress was obviously concerned about the situation with Washington's army.

There were a few that were conce Washington was too close to the Some concerned that, Washington or was losing touch with, the British forces in, in Philadelphia and, that when the weather changed th he would Washington would be swamped by the British So there were a number of concer about Washington in camping in in Valley Forge.

Ultimately, the decision was Was health problems had depleted the ranks of Congre Now, Laurens himself was sufferi When an attack and find him to his room consecutive days and nights, Laurens wrote to Congress, resigning his office.

Gentlemen, your president has been confined to his chamber and in bed for three days and ni during which time he has not had three hours sleep.

Now he finds himself incapable of performing his duty He is anxious to resign that hon which he accepted only in obedience to your vote.

His resignation was not accepted By Christmas.

Laurens condition required that he be ca and from the courthouse in order to conduct business.

But he couldn't quit.

There were too many matters of m concern facing the Continental C Thank you.

The onset of winter had brought about many desertions from the Continental Army.

There were other reports of sold The lack of news from Franklin and the commissioners in France added to Congress's co Despite his poor health and the dwindling participation of his fellow delegates, Laurens continued working.

Oh my country, shame to you that in this great, this momento so few among your worthy sons are found zealous advocates.

I will not quit my post, although I have some grounds to that I may perish on it.

Day after day, the few remaining met behind closed doors in the York County Courthouse.

Isolated from family and friends arguing over issues relating to the war.

Each night, the final hours before sleep wer in their cramped quarters, writi to family members and business p In attempts to remain involved with events b I am heartily tired of eating the flesh of fou beasts.

We can get very little else in this plentiful country that you have so often praised.

Believe me, it is the most inhos scandalous place I ever was in.

Cornelius Harnett, North Carolin The toll of living in York.

Remote of far away from the facilities that these delegates were accust Far away from the communications they expected with family and fr Away from from the the convenien The of of a city like Philadelph the most important city.

And, the states at that time, that toll was beginning to show.

And the delegates were becoming anxious about, life in New York.

On December 18th, the date Congr had proclaimed as a day of Thank Praise.

A cold rain began to fal General Washington directed the chaplains and Valle to hold services with officers and soldiers not on indispensable duty.

The cold, damp air and the army's lack of provision affected the troops willingness to celebrate.

This being the third day, we have been without flour or br Upon the whole, I think all we have to be thankf is that we are not in the grave with many of our friends.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Dearbor Continental Army.

Many members of Congress wondere why Washington's forces did not mount an attack on Phila to drive out the British.

Certainly, gates would not be this ineffective as commander in Washington knew the well-fed and well-rested British forces living in Philadelphia would eas a continental advance.

His men were sick, hungry and poorly equipped to fight.

They had not received adequate s since the previous summer.

Electing to keep his men in Valley Forge until circumstances improv drew additional criticism from C I can assure these gentlemen that it is a much easier and les distressing thing to draw remons in a comfortable room by a good than to occupy a cold, bleak hill and sleep under frost and snow without clothes or blan General George Washington.

Congress rewarded Horatio Gates for his S success with an appointment as head of the newly reorganized Board of War.

In mid-January, the renowned American commander arrived in Yorktown to assume hi General gates was received as a When he came to York, he had jus had this victory a few weeks bef and, he really was, looked up to by most of the congressmen and also by the citizens.

Here was someone they felt that could lead an army.

The support for gates, well, at least was large enough that he that they created a posi as head of the board of war for and the Board of war would help It would be like our current a D Department running the war effor So in many ways, he was the deci Horatio Gates made would affect what Geo Washington did as Commander in c Delegate James Smith, a Yorktown offered the use of his long offi to gates and his staff and lodging was arranged at Irwin's Tavern, a two story stone building consi to be one of the finest homes in Gates found the quarters to be unaccep I came from the Northern Command to provide at the Board of War, expecting upon my arrival here to find services properly f and my officers.

On the contrary, I am obliged to in the most disagreeable tavern.

General Horatio Gates, gates and the Board of War began to draw up plans for a military into Montreal, Canada, a known British stronghold for the Marquis de Lafayette was command of the invasion force, but Lafayette was not comfortable with the offer.

The plans had come directly from led Board of War, yet no one had consulted with Washin Lafayette's second in command would be Thomas Conway, the same who had written the anti-Washing sentiments uncovered after Sarat He wrote to Washington to share his concerns regarding I found that he is an ambitious and dangerous He has done all in his power by cunning maneuvers to take off my confidence and affection for you.

But I am now fixed to your fate, and I shall follow it and sustain it as well by my swo as by all means in my power.

Marquis de Lafayette.

Lafayette traveled to Yorktown to accept his assignment as commander of the Canadian inv but it was not without condition because he did not trust Conway Lafayette requested a second in command of his own choice.

He also asked to report directly to General Washington.

He informed the board that if his demands were not met he was prepared to resign from the Continental Army and re to France, taking several French with him.

Uncertain of how much influence Lafayette had on French policy.

Gates and the Board of War concluded that maintaining the support of the Marquis de Lafayette was in their best inte Lafayette's conditions were met.

Marquis de Lafayette in many min represented France, and we got t that America fairly wanted Franc to come in on its behalf.

And so there was a lot of, occur of the Marquis de Lafayette favo Lafayette was not as comfortable with gates as he was with Washington, admired Washing He ultimately revered Washington And when Lafayette, voiced some concern about the plans that gates was making, the Continental Congress listened to Lafayette.

Before leaving for Canada.

Lafayette joined gates and other members of the Board o for dinner on the second floor of Gates's r Late in the gathering, Lafayette rose from his chair.

He referred to the numerous toas that had already been offered in the interests of the American go and the prosecution of the war.

Then he reminded the board membe that there was one man who had not been recognized, the in chief at Valley Forge.

He would later recall in his mem that by the firelight he thought he saw some of the fa but they drank the toast to Wash Congress was trying to send General Lafayette an expedition to Canada.

A lot of people think that perha that that expedition was planned to remove General Lafayette from General W and kind of split them up.

Lafayette was aware of the political tensions and di that were occurring.

And he knew that this toast would be an opportunity for him to, unofficially.

And if nothing else, symbolicall demonstrate his unwavering suppo for George Washington.

And I think he was pretty aware that the Continental Congress, that would mean a lot to the Continental Congress.

And.

As each winter day past, soldiers in Valley Forge continued to endure cold a many became sick.

Some died.

The stories of the suffering arm and stark living conditions in V Forge brought discouragement and to the residents of Yorktown, and the delegates in Congress.

Despite the poor state of the re Henry Laurens and the few delega who remained with him in Yorktow refused to give up the dream for America's independence.

Shortly after Lafayette's departure from another European officer arrived Friedrich Wilhelm Augustus von S Experiences in the Prussian army gave him a wealth of tactical kn that was unheard of even to the He was sent to Valley Forge, assigned as drill master, and ch with transforming the ragged sol into a highly trained fighting f He was the military professional that, the Continental Army lacke Washington was not of that statu in terms of knowing how to train and how to to manage the forces.

Van Steuben brought that experti to Washington's army.

The onset of spring slowly brought new hope to the d in Congress.

Rumors reached Yorktown that the British were preparing to leave Philadelphia, over 3000 miles away from the American Revolution.

Benjamin Franklin and his fellow commissioners remained in the court of King Lo The 16th, determined to persuade the French governmen to assist in the colony's cause.

Franklin argued that the Declara of Independence provided proof that the colonies truly desired freedom from England, but France was not concerned with American independence.

They saw the American Revolution as a way to weaken Britain's influence around the w They wanted a sign that the Americans would win their revolu When news of the Continental Arm victory at Saratoga finally arri the French government had the pr it required a fleet of French ships, was pre with supplies for the voyage to American water France had finally entered the w The French not only provided money and supp potentially men, and of course, but also provided a potential li to other European nations like S for instance, or perhaps Holland Likewise, the French would provide a significant, diversion for the British because now they would have to w a major European power as well as these rebels in, in North America.

On May 2nd, 1778, the bells of the York County Courthouse called members of Congress back into session.

So, The documents formally annou the signing of the treaties of alliance and had finally arrived from France.

State for the Common Defense.

News of the French and American gave renewed validity to the American bid for independ Spring was coming.

The citizens and Congress realized that Washington would b that he wouldn't be sitting there in Valley Forge General gates was eventually ass another command, and, Washington became the leader, of the Army, the true leader that he really always was.

Word continued to spread that the British would evacuate Philadelphia.

Hundreds of Tories seeking forgiveness and protecti fled the city to Washington's camp and Valley British decided that they would go back to New Y and, kind of regroup there and then try their hand at the s in the southern United States and try to win the war down ther because they they weren't having a lot of success up here, particularly after the Battle of in the hard winter that followed soldiers began deserting the Bri in a final attempt to maintain t influence on the colonies.

King George sent a letter to Yor offering peace, but not independence.

The contents of the letter, as far as they were read, appeared extraordinary indeed, and showed plainly that their de was to draw us back to a subject to their king, Samuel Adams, Massachusetts.

The proposal was soundly rejecte And the.

On June 19th, a letter from George Washington reached Yorktown.

British command had ordered troo back to New York, almost nine months to the day from when Henry Laurens and so many other patriots had evacuated the city.

The Continental Army had control of Philadelphia.

On June 27th, Secretary Charles Thomas made the last entry into the Congressional Record that would be recorded in Yorkto It, adjourned to Thursday next t at the state House in Philadelph The Congress.

Soon the road was filled with people and headed east.

On October 19th, 1781, with the invaluable help of a combined French milita force, General George Washington and his Continental Army forced the final surrender of the British Army at Yorktown, The British agreed to recognize American independence.

Between September 1777 and June of 1778, against a lot of odds, the Second Continental Congress did fight a good fight.

They elected a new president, Henry Lawrence, to replace John Then their leaders, two of their John and Samuel Adams, left.

They also, reorganized their, Department of Defense.

Then lastly, they adopted the articles of Confederation.

So it goes to show that even in conditions, you can do great thi It was a legacy to the country because of the important that happened here.

The Articles of Confederation, the treaties with France, where we gained the support of F which we desperately needed, the Articles of Confederation ha for a loose federal union of the throughout the war and had become the first constit of those independent states.

They served as the nation's constitution until May 1787, when a national constitutional c convened in Philadelphia to address the documents weaknes By the time that the Continental left New York, York had become p of the mainstream of American so and government and economics.

It had a market economy.

It had a future oriented, popula that now included an increasingly diverse populati The Continental Congress brought about two generations of of progress into York in the space of about nine months.

In 1789, Congress, by unanimous vote, elected General George Washingto president and John Adams, Vice president of the United States.

The location for a permanent seat of governme was now open for debate.

Thomas Hartley, a Revolutionary veteran and representative to Co from York County, spoke for York as America's permanent capital.

Here in the hour of our struggle when our difficulties tried the souls of men, the virtuous patriots of America and consulted for our safety, ratified the alliance with Franc and waited with anxious expectat until Providence gave them deliverance.

Although York was not selected as the site for America's first it will be forever remembered as the small and modest frontier where passionate congressional d raged, military strategy was plotted, and the great statesmen of the 18th century met to direct the course of a new na For information on ordering a videocassette copy of this pro the companion book Nine Months i by James McClure, call one 802 339483.