#8 - How did #8 - How did geography factor into geography factor into the American victory the American victory

at Yorktown?at Yorktown?

Change in British StrategyChange in British Strategy

Generals Clinton & CornwallisGenerals Clinton & CornwallisThe British move the war to The British move the war to

the Southern Coloniesthe Southern ColoniesBritish Colonel Tarleton “The British Colonel Tarleton “The

Butcher”Butcher”Brutal fighting:Brutal fighting:

Civilians targetedCivilians targetedColonial Prisoners of War were Colonial Prisoners of War were

shot (POW’s)shot (POW’s)

Change in British StrategyChange in British Strategy

British VictoriesBritish VictoriesSavannah, GASavannah, GACamden, SCCamden, SC

American American VictoriesVictoriesKing’s Mountain, King’s Mountain,

SCSCCowpens, SCCowpens, SC

Continental Army Fights BackContinental Army Fights Back

Use the home Use the home field advantagefield advantageHit and run tacticsHit and run tacticsGuerrilla warfareGuerrilla warfareFrancis Marion Francis Marion

“The Swamp Fox”“The Swamp Fox”General Nathaniel General Nathaniel

Green takes Green takes chargecharge

Battle of Yorktown - 1781Battle of Yorktown - 1781

The battle takes place in The battle takes place in Virginia near the original Virginia near the original Jamestown Settlement (1607)Jamestown Settlement (1607)

The last major battle of the The last major battle of the revolutionrevolution

Cornwallis digs in while the Cornwallis digs in while the American and French converge American and French converge on Yorktownon Yorktown

With a French naval blockade, With a French naval blockade, Cornwallis is surrounded (no Cornwallis is surrounded (no escape or supplies) and escape or supplies) and outnumbered.outnumbered.

Battle of Yorktown - 1781Battle of Yorktown - 1781

Battle of Yorktown – Oct. Battle of Yorktown – Oct. 17811781

The British surrenderThe British surrender““The World Turned Upside Down”The World Turned Upside Down”

If ponies rode men and grass ate cows,And cats were chased into holes by the mouse . . .If summer were spring and the other way round, Then all the world would be upside down.

War is Over!War is Over!

1783 Treaty of Paris1783 Treaty of ParisAmerica gains America gains

IndependenceIndependenceBorders are set Borders are set

(Mississippi River is (Mississippi River is the western border)the western border)

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris American negotiators: American negotiators: John Adams, Benjamin Franklin & John JayJohn Adams, Benjamin Franklin & John Jay Demanded American Independence before any Demanded American Independence before any

talks talks would proceed.would proceed.

Boundaries set Boundaries set –– US from Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi River. Canada US from Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi River. Canada

to the Florida border (Spain gets Florida back)to the Florida border (Spain gets Florida back)

No decision when British would No decision when British would evacuate forts.evacuate forts.

Reasons Why Britain LostReasons Why Britain Lost

Lost the will to win – war unpopular in Lost the will to win – war unpopular in EnglandEngland

Never controlled countrysideNever controlled countryside

British Generals less capable fighting British Generals less capable fighting in this type of warin this type of war

French aid – money and weaponsFrench aid – money and weapons

Blockade was not successful – America was Blockade was not successful – America was self-sufficient, especially agriculturally, self-sufficient, especially agriculturally, blockade was more of an inconvenienceblockade was more of an inconvenience

US navy built 50 ships and attacked British US navy built 50 ships and attacked British merchant vessels, captured British prison merchant vessels, captured British prison ship and harassed British shipping along ship and harassed British shipping along the British Isles. – the British Isles. –

John Paul Jones becomes famous during this John Paul Jones becomes famous during this period.period.

John Paul Jones“I have not yet begun to fight” Said during battle

between Bonhomme

Richard & HMS Serapis

Jones died in Paris

in July, 1792

Remains were returned to US in 1905.

• John Paul Jones Sarocphagus at the Navel Academy in Annapolis

• Sometimes known as “Father of the US Navy”