After Washington crossed the Delaware River, the American Revolutionary War ushered in a turning point. Meanwhile, the British still believed that the rebellion could be stopped at any time, as simple as a cork blocking the mouth of a bottle.
Howe believed that by taking control of the major colonial cities, the river of rebellion would dry up and people would succumb to British rule. When Howe set his sights on Philadelphia, the center of the revolution, Washington greeted him. But perhaps the previous victory interfered with Washington's judgment, the war was lost and Philadelphia fell into British hands. However, british General Burgoyne was forced to surrender all of his 6,300 troops at the Battle of Saratoga, and the U.S. army was encouraged. Some of the world's great powers seem to be finally beginning to believe that the United States has a chance to defeat the mighty British Empire, and France is openly allied with the resistance.
When General Howe concentrated on capturing important cities, Washington received a revelation that while individual battles were important, the key to victory was not military success, but the desire to resist all the time. The British had no control over this, and it was entirely in his own hands. This spirit of defiance encountered the most challenging obstacles during the long winter of 1777. For a period of six months, soldiers in the Valley Forge camp lost tens of millions of dollars due to illness. Famine raged and supplies were scarce, and many feared that these difficulties would force desperate armies to defect. Washington has also faced heavy criticism from the U.S. public and Congress. They urged him to speed up the war, and behind the scenes, the anti-Washington movement was also underway. Washington simply replied: "Whenever the public is dissatisfied with my service... I will resign as Commander-in-Chief... Retire to live my own life. Critics quickly fell silent.
Although the conditions have been bad, the soldiers are in good shape after the winter has passed. Washington proved that his forces attacked the British flanks attempting to leave Monmouth Court more violently than ever before. Although the battle eventually ended in a stalemate, Washington finally achieved what he had been doing since the beginning of the war — to hold his ground in a fierce battle. This meant a lot to the Americans, it proved that the growing Continental Army was growing at an alarming rate, and if the terrible winter they experienced did not bring them down, what chance would the British have?
The French seem to have this attitude as well. On 5 September 1781, 24 French ships defeated 19 British ships at the Battle of Chesapeake. This victory prevented the British from reinforcing Lord Cornwallis's army, which was cordoned off in Yorktown, Virginia. This is exactly the opportunity Washington needs, and he doesn't intend to waste it.
The British were not only trapped, but also exposed, and Washington's troops were growing in numbers. He led his soldiers out of Williamsburg and besieged Yorktown. Beginning in late September, the Continental Army steadily approached the British, forcing them to retreat from the perimeter fortifications, which the American and French armies were able to exploit. When the colonists began to set up artillery, the British kept firing at them. Still, Washington took a big risk by continuing to visit the front lines and inspire his soldiers.
By October 5, he was ready to go. In a fierce storm, Washington grabbed a pickaxe and cut a few times in the dirt, and these ravines later became the new trenches for the Americans to bomb the British. At 17:00 on October 9, the Americans fired continuous shells at the British. The British ships were sunk and the soldiers fled en masse. Washington's soldiers rushed to the British fortress and defeated the astonished British. The Americans fired artillery fire at the town, and Cornwallis attempted to escape across the York River, but without success, eventually surrendered.
Little did Washington know that his victory in Yorktown would lead to Britain eventually abandoning hostilities, ending the war, and freeing the United States. On September 3, 1783, representatives of the two countries signed the Treaty of Paris, declaring British recognition of American independence. With the victory announced, Washington disbanded his army and bid farewell to those who saw him not only as a leader, but also as a comrade-in-arms. On 23 December 1783, he resigned as commander-in-chief of the army and humbly returned to his home in Mount Vernon.
However, without him, his country was ruined. With no leader leading the people together, states fought and quarreled over border issues and imposed heavy taxes on citizens. The former commander watched as he had led the people who had led them to freedom in a laborious struggle. He was frustrated, but hesitant to act. It wasn't until an armed uprising in Massachusetts called the "Sheth Uprising" that Washington was finally persuaded to be in the spotlight again.
Washington quietly attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787. He sat there, listening quietly, speaking only once. However, those present at the time agreed that the national government needed greater power — someone strong enough and charismatic. Washington was unanimously elected. In 1787, he became president of the National Congress. In 1789, he was again unanimously elected as the first president in U.S. history and the only president in history to receive 100% of the vote. He served two terms as president from 1789 to 1797, until he again relinquished the powers he could have easily possessed. In the spring of 1797, he finally returned to his beloved Mount Vernon. He realized—perhaps better than many who supported him—that power could not be held indefinitely in the hands of one man in a free country.
(Source: The Great Events That Changed History)