Chapter 7-3
The Path to Victory
AFTER 3 years of fighting, the British decided to move the war SOUTH
December 1778 – British capture Savannah and then conquer most of Georgia
Battle of Charles Town – British General Henry Clinton trapped Americans and they surrendered – worst defeat
The War Moves South
American General Horatio Gates met BritishGeneral Lord Cornwallis August 1780
Americans half-starved, panicked & fled They left Baron De Kalb and his soldiers
behind - DeKalb died
American spirits hit a low
Camden, South Carolina
British still not gain control of SOUTH
Countryside filled with hostel rebel sympathizers
“Swamp Fox” – famous guerilla leader Francis Marion – led cunning attacks for this base in the swamps
Guerilla War
Washington puts General Greene in charge of American army after Gen Horatio Gates defeat
Jan 1781 wins a battle against Lord Cornwallis at Cowpens, South Carolina
March 1781 wins against Lord Cornwallis in Battle of Guilford
BRITISH FINALLY ADMIT THEIR SOUTHERN STRATEGY HAD FAILED
General Greene Takes Charge
Cornwallis marched to Yorktown, Virginia to await supplied by ship from NY
Washington joined with French General Jean Rochambeau and marched south from NY
French ship from West Indies blocked the Chesapeake Bay – preventing supplied to Yorktown
BATTLE OF YORKTOWN had begun
THE END OF THE WAR
British try to protect self with redoubts (small forts) encircling town
But when Americans captured redoubts, they able to move closer to British
October 9, 1781 Cornwallis surrendered! British Prime Minister Lord North gasped –
“It’s all over!!”
BATTLE of YORKTOWN
How was it possible American Patriots gained their independence from the powerful British Empire?
AMERICAN STRENGHTS BRITISH WEAKNESSES
MOTIVATION – fought for lives, property, ideals
POPULAR SUPPORT – many civilians supported revolution
LEADERSHIP – inspired loyalty and patriotism
FOREIGN ALLIES – French, Spanish & Dutch
MOTIVATION – fought for pay
POPULAR SUPPORT – no widespread support in Britain
LEADERSHIP – over-confident, disunited
FOREIGN ALLIES – None. Many turned against GB
How was it possible American Patriots gained their independence from the powerful British Empire?
AMERICAN STRENGTHS BRITISH WEAKNESSES
COMMUNICATION & SUPPLIES – fought close to home; made sure British not live off land
TROOP STRENGTH – fewer troops, but local militia helped.
250,000 fought for Patriot cause
COMMUNICATION & SUPPLIES – orders from London took months; had to transport over 3000 miles
TROOP STRENGTH – 54,000 British troops
George Washington wrote farewell letter to his armies –
“ (the armies endurance) through almost every possible suffering and discouragement for the space of eight long years, was little short of a standing miracle.”
1783 – Last British Ship Leaves NYC