After the heavy defeats and losses of New York, George Washington's Continental Army was on the run from the British. In order to preserve the army and continue the rebellion against the British, Washington decided to take a risky venture. Specifically, in the winter of 1776 he crossed with the army the frozen Delaware River from New Jersey.
Although Washington saved the army, it had to restore morale to the army and decided to attack Trenton. In December, or rather December 25, 1776, US soldiers unexpectedly attacked careless German mercenaries. After Trenton, Washington rushed to Princeton where he destroyed the garrison, and then sought winter refuge in the mountains.
The next battle that was a turning point for the British was the battle of Saratoga. The British, led by General Burgoyne, tried to break into Canada across the Hudson Valley all the way to New York, but were stopped by the Americans.
Washington brought the final victory in 1781 with the successful siege of Yorktown. French involvement in the war brings new problems to England on the American mainland and weakens the British influence.
