This person was chosen to be the Commander of the Continental Army.

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​Who is this?

​Even after the Declaration of Independence was signed, about 20% of Americans still wanted the British to rule the colonies. These people were called Loyalists because they were loyal to King George III. The beginning of the Revolutionary War forced the colonists to decide which side they would support. Battles lasted for several years. They were in New York, Pennsylvania, and later in Southern Colonies. George Washington and his men were outnumbered by the British, but had the advantage of fighting on familiar land. The British were unable to keep up supply for a large military force over a long period of time in distant North America. In 1778, France joined the war on the American side supplying the colonists with money, arms, and naval support. In October 1781, the British surrendered in Yorktown. The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 and the war ended. This treaty granted the United States its independence.