American Revolutionary War

Historical eventDecember 81777

American Revolutionary War

American Revolutionary War: British commander-in-chief Sir William Howe withdrew his troops from the Battle of White Marsh to Philadelphia.

Everything on December 8Original source

In context

When
Monday, December 8 1777249 years ago
Category
Historical eventA dated happening — a battle, treaty, launch, discovery, disaster or decision — recorded on this calendar day.
Era
18th century · 1770s
Recorded from
Wikipedia “On this day” feed

Russia, Greece and some other countries used the Julian calendar into the early 20th century, so local records may show a date up to 13 days earlier.

At a glance

Dates: 1775-04-19 – 1783-09-03.

Place: Eastern United States.

Type: war of national liberation.

Key figures / parties: United States, Kingdom of France, Kingdom of Spain, Dutch Republic, Vermont Republic, Kingdom of Great Britain, Indigenous peoples of the United States in North America, and Spain.

What came before

Part of: American Revolution.

What happened

The American Revolutionary War, also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence or simply the American Revolution, was the armed conflict that comprised the final eight years of the broader American Revolution, in which American Patriot forces organized as the Continental Army and, commanded by George Washington, defeated the British Army. The conflict was fought in North America, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean. The war's outcome seemed uncertain for most of the war,

December 8 through the years

Other entries on the same calendar day, in order.

  1. 1777American Revolutionary War
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  5. 20132013 Little India riot
  6. 2013Little India, Singapore
  7. 2013Metallica
  8. 2019COVID-19
  9. 2024Syrian civil war
  10. 2024Fall of Damascus (2024)
  11. 2025Singapore

Also in 1777

  • June 14Second Continental CongressThe Second Continental Congress adopted the stars and stripes design for the flag of the United States.
  • January 3American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: American forces commanded by George Washington defeated British troops at the Battle of Princeton (depicted).
  • July 31Second Continental CongressThe Second Continental Congress passed a resolution commissioning the Marquis de Lafayette (pictured) as a major general in the American…
  • August 6Battle of OriskanyThe Battle of Oriskany, one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolutionary War, was fought about 6 mi (10 km) east of Fort Stanwi…
  • January 2American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: American forces under the command of George Washington repulsed a British attack at the Battle of the Assunpi…
  • July 7American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: British forces caught up with American troops withdrawing from Ticonderoga, capturing more than 200 men at th…
  • October 6American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: Fort Clinton and Fort Montgomery were captured by British forces under Sir Henry Clinton, dismantling the Hud…
  • August 16American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary War: American forces routed British and German troops at the Battle of Bennington in Walloomsac, New York.

Everything we record for 1777 →

Sources

Cite this page

“American Revolutionary War”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/event/american-revolutionary-war-1777-december-8, accessed October 27, 2026.

Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.

Questions about this entry

When did American Revolutionary War happen?

December 8 1777 — 249 years ago, on a Monday.

Where does this text come from?

Wikipedia “On this day” feed. Summaries are short adaptations that link back to the source, not reprints.

How do I cite this page?

Use the ready-made citation near the sources at the bottom of the page, and follow the source link to cite the underlying record as well.

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