Spain (in 1779) and the Dutch (1780) will become allies of the French, leaving the British Empire to fight a global war alone without major allies, and requiring it to slip through a combined blockade of the Atlantic.

The American theater will thus become only one front in Britain's war.

The British will be forced to withdraw troops from continental America to reinforce the valuable sugar-producing Caribbean colonies, which were more lucrative to British investors.

British commander Sir Henry Clinton evacuates Philadelphia and returns to New York City.

General Washington intercepts Clinton in the Battle of Monmouth Court House, the last major battle fought in the north.

After an inconclusive engagement, the British successfully retreat to New York City.

The northern war will subsequently become a stalemate, as the focus of attention shifts to the smaller southern theater.

Washington's army shadows Clinton's, and Washington successfully forces a battle at Monmouth Courthouse on June 28, the last major battle in the North.

Washington's second-in-command, General Charles Lee, who leads the advance force of the army, orders a controversial retreat early in the battle, allowing Clinton's army to regroup.

Clinton is in New York City by July, and ...

...Washington is again at White Plains, New York.

Both armies are back where they had been two years earlier.