THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: 1776-1783

The War is Won

Vive la France

Critical point in the war Both needing a victory to win the war Both making plans to outsmart the

other Patriots waited for aid from French Brits waited for Washington to attack

July 1780- French warships appear off coast of RI !

Carried more than 5,000 soldiers under French General Rochambeau

Crowds cheered their bright uniforms & plumage

French aid had arrived at last but… Brit fleet arrived soon after trapping

them off RI Fall 1780-

Washington camps just north of NYC He could keep eye on Clinton and Brits in

NYC Plan was to attack as soon as 2nd fleet

of French arrive Don’t arrive for almost another year!!!

Change in Plans Washington knew of the fighting in the

south Knew Cornwallis was bottled up at

Yorktown, VA G-Dub had previously sent Lafayette’s

troops to keep them from north August 1781- 2nd French fleet heads to

the Chesapeake instead of NYC Washington hatches NEW Patriot plan…

Keep Clinton thinking they would attack NYC, but secretly move south instead

This would keep Clinton in the north Can’t help Cornwallis from disaster

approaching Rochambeau and Washington secretly

march 200 miles in 15 days to meet up w/ Lafayette north of Yorktown

Meet up w/ 2 French fleets Basically…

3 armies north 2 French fleets off east coast Continental Army of the south (left intact

when Cornwallis gave up on Carolinas) All surrounding Cornwallis’ army @

Yorktown, VA

The Siege of Yorktown

Washington wondered if complicated plan would work Hoped he had fooled Clinton Hoped French fleet would reach

Yorktown in time 5 September 1781

G-Dub receives news that fleet is nearly there Plan worked perfectly, and Brits still

bored waiting in NYC!!! 14,000 Patriot and French troops

had the 7,500 Brit and Hessian troops of Cornwallis trapped!!!

French fleets kept Cornwallis from escaping by sea

Continentals of South kept from retreating south

Meanwhile, Clinton sits and waits bored in NYC waiting for the attack that would never come

Are these guys ever gonna

attack… I am soooo bored!!!

Cornwallis’ Defeat

9 October 1781- American and French forces

begin massive bombardment So extreme, bodies lay

everywhere of Cornwallis’ army Supplies run low for Brits and so

many soldiers dead or wounded Cornwallis realizes the

hopelessness of the situation 19 October 1781-

Cornwallis surrenders Patriots had won the Battle of

Yorktown Brits marched b/t rows of French

and Patriot forces handing over their weapons

Cornwallis surrenders his sword to Washington!

Independence

Fighting didn’t end @ Yorktown Brits still held Savannah, Charles Town, &

NYC Few more fights but…

Victory @ Yorktown convinces crown war too costly to con’t

2 sides send delegates to Paris to work out treaty Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay for

USA 3 September 1783- Treaty of Paris

signed ending the war Also peace treaties b/t French and

Spanish too Terms for Brits

Great Britain would recognize USA as independent nation

Land claim from Atlantic to Mississippi R. and Canada to Spanish Florida

Brits withdraw all troops from territory Fishing rights off coast of Canada

Terms for USA USA would allow Brit merchants to collect

debts from colonists Loyalist land would be returned

The Newburgh Conspiracy After surrender, Washington

maintained army w/ HQ @ Newburgh, NY Plan was to disband after peace treaty

signed Anger mounted but not toward Brits

Congress refused to fund their pensions, and other pay

Distrust so bad… Plan to not disband and march on Congress

if not paid Washington shocked and worried

Revolt like this could destroy new nation!!!

Persuaded army to be patient He met w/ Congress urged them to

pay Washington’s leadership ended threat

and Congress got busy writing checks

British troops leave NYC in Nov. 1783 War truly over Washington could finally give up his

command 4 December 1783- Washington says

farewell to his troops He returned home to Mount Vernon where

he planned on retiring quietly

Why the Americans Won

How did they manage to win? How defeat strongest military in

world? Patriots had several advantages…

Fought on own land French and Spanish aid

Soldiers, navy, generals, $$$ Blocked Brit navy Brits could control cities, but not

countryside Patriots knew terrain, and could hide

easily Brave, impulsive generals Most important…

It was the people’s cause Had personal interest in outcome Determination and spirit that could

never be beaten

The Influence of the American Revolution on the World

1776- colonists began a revolution Making clear principles of

freedom and rights of people Ideas lead influence to French

people to question their own lives Ideas shouted by French rebels

during French Revolution in 1789 Caribbean Islands push for

independence as well But from France!?!

When France overthrown by natives and slaves in Caribbean, Haiti in particular…

European control in the New World began to quickly disappear