WHAT HAPPENED IN 1778.
Look what happened the 1778.

James Cook is the first known European to discover the Hawaiian Islands, which he names the "Sandwich Islands". (18. January 1778)

South Carolina becomes the second state to ratify the Articles of Confederation. (5. February 1778)

American Revolutionary War: In Paris the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce are signed by the United States and France signaling official recognition of the new republic. (6. February 1778)

The United States Flag is formally recognized by a foreign naval vessel for the first time, when French Admiral Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte renders a nine gun salute to USS Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones. (14. February 1778)

American Revolutionary War: Baron von Steuben arrives at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania to help to train the Continental Army. (23. February 1778)

American Revolution: The Battle of Crooked Billet begins in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. (1. May 1778)

American Revolutionary War: British troops abandon Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (18. June 1778)

The American Continentals engage the British in the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse resulting in standstill and British withdrawal under cover of darkness. (28. June 1778)

American Revolutionary War: British forces kill 360 people in the Wyoming Valley massacre. (3. July 1778)

American Revolutionary War: American forces under George Clark capture Kaskaskia during the Illinois campaign. (4. July 1778)

American Revolution: Louis XVI of France declares war on the Kingdom of Great Britain. (10. July 1778)

American Revolution: First Battle of Ushant – British and French fleets fight to a standoff. (27. July 1778)

American Revolutionary War: British forces begin besieging the French outpost at Pondichéry. (21. August 1778)

The first recorded ascent of Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia. (26. August 1778)

American Revolutionary War: British and American forces battle indecisively at the Battle of Rhode Island. (29. August 1778)

American Revolutionary War: France invades Dominica in the British West Indies, before Britain is even aware of France's involvement in the war. (7. September 1778)

American Revolutionary War: Elcid Barrett's sloop The Antelope is sunk by "a bloody great Yankee" near Montego Bay. (10. September 1778)

The Treaty of Fort Pitt is signed. It is the first formal treaty between the United States and a Native American tribe (the Lenape or Delaware Indians). (17. September 1778)

The Continental Congress passes the first United States federal budget. (19. September 1778)

Captain James Cook anchors in Alaska. (3. October 1778)