<P> A few days later, British General Charles Cornwallis hoped to engage Washington's army at Trenton after Washington recrossed the Delaware River, resulting in the Second Battle of Trenton . After recapturing Trenton, he ordered charges on fortified defenses at Assunpink Creek . The Americans inflicted heavy casualties on the British from their defenses . Later, the Continental army slipped past Cornwallis's stalled army and launched an attack on British soldiers stationed at Princeton in the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777 . The British at Princeton were forced to surrender . Cornwallis immediately ordered his army to engage the Americans at Princeton, but was prevented by snipers . These victories forced the British to leave New Jersey . </P> <P> On June 28, 1778, the Continental Army under George Washington met a British column under Sir Henry Clinton at the Battle of Monmouth . Washington hoped to surprise and overwhelm the rear of the British army . General Charles Lee led the American attack on the British rear but retreated prematurely when the British attempted to flank the Americans . The retreat nearly led to disorder, but Washington managed to rally the troops to withstand two British counter-attacks, both of which failed . As temperatures increased to over 100 ° F (38 ° C), many soldiers fell to sunstroke . After the battle, Charles Lee was court - martialed for his poor command . Over 1,000 British casualties were incurred while the Americans lost 452 men . It was during this battle that the legendary "Molly Pitcher" is said to have fought . </P> <P> The last major battle to take place in New Jersey during the Revolutionary War (and for the rest of the history of New Jersey) was the Battle of Springfield . Baron von Knyphausen, the Hessian general, hoped to invade New Jersey and expected support from colonists of New Jersey who were tired of the war . He hoped to secure Hobart Gap, from which he could attack the American headquarters in Morristown . On June 23, 1780, the British attacked soldiers under the command of Nathanael Greene . General Greene successfully stopped a two - pronged attack from entrenchments held across the Raritan River, preventing the British invasion . </P> <P> New Jersey ratified and then signed the Articles of Confederation on November 26, 1779 . In the summer of 1783, the Continental Congress met in Nassau Hall of Princeton University . It had originally convened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but mutinous troops prevented the meeting from taking place . Princeton became the temporary capital for the nation for four months . During the brief stay in Princeton, the Continental Congress was informed of the end of the war by the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783 . On December 18, 1787, New Jersey became the third state to ratify the United States Constitution, and on November 20, 1789, New Jersey became the first state in the Nation to ratify the United States Bill of Rights . </P>

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