An oil painting depicting the the surrender of British Lieutenant General Charles, Earl Cornwallis at Yorktown, Va. on October 19, 1781.

"The Surrender of Lord Cornwallis" is an oil painting by John Trumbull. The painting was completed in 1820, and hangs in the rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, D. C.

Revolutionary War

American Revolution

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The Forging of Our Nation

The Revolutionary War was a war unlike any other — one of ideas and ideals, that shaped “the course of human events.” With 165 principal engagements from 1775-1783, the Revolutionary War was the catalyst for American independence. Our inalienable rights, as laid out in the Declaration of Independence, were secured by George Washington and his army at the Siege of Boston, the American victory at Princeton and the stunning British surrender at Yorktown. Explore the battlefields and personalities from this pivotal time in American history.

Dale Watson
The American Revolution Experience
From drummer boys, military mapmakers and other ordinary people, explore the lives of 13 men and women who witnessed the dawn of a new nation.
Battle Map
Explore the battles of the Revolutionary War by location

Revolutionary Figures

George Washington

Learn about the life of George Washington, the military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States

Charles Cornwallis

Charles Cornwallis was born on New Years’ Eve to an English ruling class family. His father Charles, a Baron, sent Cornwallis to Eton, an exclusive

Marquis de Lafayette

Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette, better known simply as the Marquis de Lafayette , was born into an extremely noble family in Chavaniac

Peggy Shippen

Peggy Shippen, wife of Benedict Arnold, was a civilian and spy during the American Revolutionary War. A Loyalist, she worked with her husband to

Joseph Brant

One of the most controversial figures of the American Revolution, Joseph Brant (Mohawk name Thayendanegea), was born along the Cuyahoga River in 1742