The End of the American Revolution

European Aid After Saratoga, France joins the War effort; France send troops and their navy European leaders help train the Continental’s to be a successful fighting force. The Marquis de Lafayette was a French aristocrat who helped train the Americans. Marquis de Lafayette

The British Move South After the loss at Saratoga, the British moved south to find loyalist support. End of 1778: British capture Savannah, GA. May 1780: Gen. Cornwallis and Gen. Clinton capture the important port of Charles Town, SC. Clinton then returned to New York and Left Cornwallis to conquer the south.

Success for Cornwallis Succeeded for most of 1780. Slaves joined his army because the British offered freedom for service. Controlled South Carolina. Tried to move into NC, but was pushed back by Patriot bands. Gen. George Cornwallis

British Losses in 1781 Cornwallis faced off against Gen. Nathanael Greene in NC and SC. At the Battle of Cowpens, SC, the outnumbered Americans under Greene defeated British forces under Banastre Tarleton. Later at the Battle of Guilford Court House, NC, Cornwallis won the battle with heavy losses. Nearly ¼ of his army was dead, wounded, or missing.

The Move to Yorktown, VA After the losses in the Carolinas, Cornwallis decided to move north to Virginia. Here he met up with reinforcements. He tried to capture Colonial troops under Lafayette and another European commander, but failed. He decided to set up his base in Yorktown, VA near Jamestown. Yorktown was between two rivers, the James and the York.

The Siege of Yorktown The French fleet had finally arrived to aid the colonists. Middle of 1781: A French fleet defeats a British fleet at the opening of the Chesapeake Bay, cutting off reinforcement for Cornwallis. 17,000 American and French troops that surrounded Yorktown bombarded the British fortifications for three weeks.

Victory at Last Oct. 17, 1781: Cornwallis surrenders Oct. 19, 1781: Washington and French generals accepts the British surrender from Cornwallis’ subordinate Gen. O’Hara General O’Hara

Treaty of Paris, 1783 The United States now stretched from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mississippi River and from Canada to Florida. (Florida was returned to Spain) British did not agree to evacuate their American forts. Loyalists could sue for war losses (states failed to do this) and Britain can collect debts from Americans. All European nations recognize the United States of America.

The Legacy of the War After the war, the new nation faced issues such as a high national debt (approximately 27 million dollars) and calls for equality. To promote liberty, some states passed laws outlawing slavery. New England states abolished slavery immediately and Middle states abolished slavery gradually, but African Americans still faced discrimination. At the end of the war, some African Americans went to Great Britain.

The Legacy of the War Americans began demanding more religious freedom. Laws discriminating against Jews and Catholics were abolished. They also ended the practice of using tax money to support churches. An estimated 25,700 Americans died in the war and 1,400 remained missing. The British suffered about 10,000 military deaths. Thousands of Loyalists lost their land and many fled to Canada.

The Legacy of the War The Americans found it difficult to pay off their war debt. The Americans saw Native Americans as a conquered people and subject to their will. However, the Native Americans believed that they were still a free people, leading to conflicts with the new United States long after the war was over.

The Legacy of the War The Americans goal for government shifted to republicanism. They decided that instead of a king, the people would rule. Anger over British taxes, violation of rights and control of trade led the Americans to create a central government in which the states would have the most power, leading to problems during the early years of the new nation.

The Lasting Impact of the Revolution Would inspire other countries to fight for freedom, including: France, Haiti, and many South American countries. A new powerful political force was created in the form of the United States. (http://goo.gl/jmLLNh HC) Egalitarianism (The equality of all people) arose during the war. Due to equal treatment in the military and the need to produce goods during wartime by all levels of society. The ideal that hard work will get you further in life arises. Women, African Americans, and Native Americans would later use the principles of the Revolution to demand their rights. (http://goo.gl/1sGQt7 CCH)