Summary
In 1778, the French entered the war on America's side.
Victory seemed closer than ever. Then a strange thing happened:
the war slowed down. The British turned their attention to the
South, where the American forces were weaker. Washington's frustrations
with Congress increased. His army lacked troops and supplies, and,
at one point in August 1779, it even lacked gunpowder. Congress
was unwilling to tax its struggling colonies to fund the Continental Army,
so the war ground nearly to a halt. Aside from several victories
against Indians on the frontier, not much happened. The French were
coming, but they took a long time to arrive.
Finally, in July of 1780, the French Army landed in Rhode
Island, led by General Comte de Rochambeau. Washington wanted to invade
New York City, where Clinton's army was camped, but he realized
he could not attack until a second group of French soldiers arrived.
While waiting, Washington experienced one of his greatest disappointments:
Benedict Arnold, the talented soldier who had helped the Americans
win at Saratoga, defected to the British side. This did not significantly
affect the war's outcome, but Arnold's treachery shocked and saddened
Washington.
In August of 1781 Washington and de Rochambeau learned
the French navy would soon arrive off the coast of Virginia. They decided
to march there in order to trap the British General Charles Cornwallis,
who had camped his army at Yorktown on Chesapeake Bay. It was a
brilliant surprise: Washington led the French and American troops
in a siege of Yorktown, pinning Cornwallis against the ocean. British
ships tried to rescue Cornwallis but were turned away by the French
navy. Cornwallis had no choice but to surrender his entire army.
This crushing defeat for the British effectively ended the war.
Britain was finally ready to grant America independence and negotiate
peace.
It wasn't as simple as that, however. Though the British
and American sides began negations soon after Yorktown, it wasn't until
two years later that the Treaty of Paris was signed, spelling out the
terms of peace. In the meantime Washington remained in control
of the army, ready to fight again if necessary. The soldiers were restless.
They wanted to go home and enjoy the fruits of victory, see their
families, and tend to their neglected homes. Washington yearned
for this as well. He urged the troops to stay patient, but some
talked of mutiny. In March of 1783 several officers circulated a
paper calling for the army to march on Congress. Congress owed them
pay and a pension, which they wanted immediately. Washington was
determined not to let the military threaten civilian government,
and he stopped the rebellion in its tracks.
Soon after, word of an agreement with Britain came. Now
America was finally independent. Washington's job as commander
was over. Few people seem to have expected him to quit, however.
He was the most powerful person in America by far, commanding the devotion
of his army and the support of the people. He could have become
a dictator, possibly even crown himself king. Many people expected
him to, and many more were eager to see him do it.
The world was shocked and amazed, therefore, when on December
23, 1783, Washington resigned his command of the Continental Army.
Leaders and statesmen across Europe hailed him as the greatest
man of his generation. They called him the symbol of republican
virtue: a private citizen who served his country when called and
returned to private life when his duty was done. It was nearly unique
in the history of the world for someone with so much power to willingly
give it up. But he did. Washington returned to Mount Vernon, ready
to enjoy his retirement.
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