Native Americans

LW Help… I’m Surrounded!!! L

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION: 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  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  Washington camps just north of NYC He could keep eye on Clinton and Brits in NYC  Plan was to attack as soon as 2 nd 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 nd 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’ Yorktown, VA

Native Americans LW Help… I’m Surrounded!!! RLR W

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  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  Cornwallis surrenders  Patriots had won the Battle of Yorktown 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 Yorktown  Brits still held Savannah, Charles Town, & NYC  Few more fights but… 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 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/ 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  War truly over  Washington could finally give up his command 4 December 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  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