Chapter 4 Section 4
Independence
Savannah and Charles TownBritain moved the war to the south because they believed that most people living in the Southern Colonies were Loyalists
After fighting for 3 years in the North, the British were no closer to victory
Even though the British had captured some cities in the North, they could not control the countryside
Believed that if they gained territory in the South, the Loyalists there would help them hold on to it
Savannah and Charles Town
The British expected that the Southern slaves would also be on their side
Promised to grant slaves willing to fight for the British freedom
Even though thousands of African American slaves did join the British, not all received their freedom
Some British officers sold African Americans into slavery in the West Indies
Savannah and Charles Town
British also moved the war south so that they could be closer to their West Indian colonies
Southern seaports were closer to the West Indies where British troops were stationed
December 1778: British capture the port of Savannah and using it as a base were able to conquer most of GeorgiaIn 1780, General Henry Clinton forces Charles Town (now Charleston) to surrender
Worst American defeat of the war
The Swamp Fox and Guerilla Fighting After the loss of Charles Town, General
Horatio Gates is assigned to form a new Southern army
Hero of Saratoga
Headed for Camden, South Carolina to challenge British General Lord Cornwallis
On the way, met a group of backcountry Patriots Leader was Francis Marion, called “The Swamp Fox”
Provided Gates and his soldiers useful information about the Carolina swamp lands
Gates sent Marion and his men to destroy boats on the Santee River
This cut British communication to Charles Town
The Swamp Fox and Guerilla FightingAugust 1780: Gates army runs into British
troops outside of CamdenAmericans in no shape to fight-out of supplies and starving
Gates put his men on the front lines, which was disastrous
His men fled and so did he
Terrible defeat
Ended Gates’s term as head of an armyMorale reached a new low
The Swamp Fox and Guerilla Fighting After Camden, the British set out for Charles
Town with American prisonersMarion and his men overwhelmed the British and freed the prisoners
From a base in the swamp, Marion’s men were able to cut the British supply line using methods of a guerilla warfare.
Small bands of fighters who weaken the enemy with surprise raids and hit-and-run attacks
Both Patriots and Loyalists formed guerilla bands in the South and both sides conducted vicious raids
The Tide TurnsUnder Greene’s command, Americans avoided larger battles
British had the edge in large battles because of superior firepower
Americans let the British chase them around the countryside and wear them out
When fighting occurred, they made sure that the British suffered heavy losses
War enters sixth year of fightingMany British opposed to the war
Begin to think that American independence isn’t so bad
The End of the War1781: Most of the fighting took place in Virginia
British General Cornwallis set up base at Yorktown along the Chesapeake Bay
From there, the British could receive supplies from New York
Washington seized the opportunity
General Lord Cornwallis
The End of the WarAugust 1781: Large French fleet arrives from the West Indies and blocked Chesapeake Bay
Prevented British from receiving supplies and from escapingWashington and French commander General Jean Rochambeau marched south and trapped Cornwallis on the peninsulaWhen British ships tried to reach Cornwallis, French ships drove them back
The End of the War
The Battle of YorktownAmerican and French troops bombarded Yorktown with cannon fire
Cornwallis was forced to surrender
Continental Army captured 8,000 British soldiers – the largest British Army in America
Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution
Treaty of Paris Britain would officially recognize America
as an independent nation Set America’s borders to the Mississippi
River Britain accepts America's right to settle
and trade west of the Appalachians. Britain returns Florida to Spain