US History
Fort Burrows
6.5 – Winning the War in the South
After the British surrendered at Yorktown, Britain recognized the United States as an Independent Country.
Battle of Cowpens – a ‘tricky’ battle in South Carolina - American victory
guerrilla – soldier that uses hit-and-run tactics
siege – military blockade or bombardment of an enemy town or position to force a surrender
Battle of Yorktown – in Virginia - was the final battle in the Revolution
Treaty of Paris – peace treaty between the United States and Britain, ratified
in 1783, that recognized the U.S. as an Independent Country
ratify – to approve
When he was only 16 years old, Thomas Young set out with about 900 other Patriots to capture Kings Mountain in South Carolina. Although they were barefoot, they moved quickly up the wooded hillside, shouldering their old muskets. They were determined to take the mountain from the Loyalists who were dug in at the top.
Whooping and shouting, Young and his comrades dashed from tree to tree, dodging bullets as they fired back. Suddenly, Thomas heard the frantic cry, “Colonel Williams is shot!”
“I ran to his assistance for I loved him as a father… He revived,
and his first words were, ‘For GOD’s sake boys, don’t give up the hill!”
Thomas Young, Memoir, The Orion
The Patriots captured Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780. The victory was an important sign. Britain had decided to make the South the key to winning the war. The American victory at Kings Mountain showed that Britain’s new strategy might not work.
Fighting in the South
the South became the main battleground of the war in 1778
British Colonel Clinton hoped Loyalists would join him in the South
British seized Savannah, Charleston and Camden
Patriots versus Loyalists
Patriots and Loyalists launched raids against each other
the burned farms, killed civilians and tortured prisoners
as attacks became more cruel, settlers sided with Patriots
Greene and Morgan Help Turn the Tide
Nathanael Greene was second only to GW as a military leader
using his knowledge of local geography, Greene engaged the British on the ground and put them at a disadvantage
Greene wore out Cornwallis’ men trying to catch Greene’s army
Daniel Morgan used a clever tactic to defeat British at the Battle of Cowpens
he divided his soldiers into a front line and rear line
he ordered the front line to retreat after firing just two volleys
British thought Americans were retreating and charged into the rear line
Greene and Morgan combined armies to fight at Guilford Courthouse
Battle was the bloodiest; Americans retreated; British sustained great losses
Hit and Run
Francis Marion, known as the Swamp Fox, frustrated the British
his small militia used guerrilla tactics to harass the British
militia appeared out of the swamps, attacked quickly, and retreated back into the swamps
Victory at Yorktown
Cornwallis abandoned his plan to take the Carolinas
in Spring 1781, he moved his troops to Virginia to cut off the American’s supply routes to the South
An American Traitor
Benedict Arnold had turned traitor in Sept 1780 because he had not received enough credit for his victories and needed money
Arnold secretly turned over West Point to the British
plot was uncovered by a Patriot patrol, but Arnold escaped
Arnold’s treason, burning the capital city of Richmond and raids on other towns enraged the Patriots
Thomas Jefferson offered reward for his capture and Washington ordered him to be hanged but he was never captured
Battle at Yorktown
Cornwallis hoped to meet with the same kind of success in Virginia as Arnold
Cornwallis and Loyalists attack Charlottesville and where Governor Thomas Jefferson and the legislature had to flee
Lafayette staged raids to keep Cornwallis at bay
Cornwallis made a mistake by disregarding an order to send part of his army to New York
he retreated to Yorktown peninsula where the navy could supply his army
Washington saw an opportunity to trap Cornwallis on the Yorktown peninsula
Washington marched his troops south from New York
Rochambeau joined Washington with some French troops
they combined with Lafayette in Virginia
Grasse sailed his French fleet toward Virginia and closed the trap
Cornwallis was cut off, could not get supplies, and could not escape
¿¿ How did the United States gain victory at Yorktown ?
______
The British Surrender
by the end of September, more than 16,000 American and French troops laid siege day after day to the British forces of less than 8,000
Cornwallis held out for several weeks but casualties were mounting, supplies were running low and the situation looked hopeless
the British had lost the Battle of Yorktown and surrendered their weapons on October 19, 1781
the defeated redcoats marched between the Americans and French while their band played the tune “The World Turned Upside Down”
The Peace Treaty
“It’s all over”, cried the defeated British Prime Minister, Lord North
Peace talks began in 1782 in Paris, France; American delegates - Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay of New York, and Henry Laurens of South Carolina
Under the Treaty of Paris:
1. British recognized the United States as an independent nation, US extended from
Atlantic Ocean to Mississippi River, from the Great Lakes in the North to Spanish Florida
2. Americans agreed to ask the state legislatures to pay Loyalists for property they lost in the war (most ignored claims)
April 15, 1783, almost 8 years after the Revolutionary War began, Congress ratified the
Treaty of Paris
¿¿ What were the terms of the Treaty of Paris ?
1.______
2.______
The area ceded to the United States by Great Britain in 1783, is universally recognized as the Eastern United States. Louisiana and Florida acquisitions were recognized as the Western and Southern frontiers in early days of the Republic. Although East of the Rockies, Texas is considered Western.Why the Americans Won
Foreign Help
help from other nations was crucial to the American cause
Spain attacked the British along the Gulf of Mexico and Mississippi Valley
French money and military aid helped Americans secure the victory
Americans’ Growing Patriotism
Americans’ patriotic spirit and fighting skills was another key to victory
despite setbacks, Patriots battled on and learned how to drill, march & fight
by the end, Washington’s military skills were respected by Americans and British alike
Washington’s Farewell
in Dec 1783, Washington bid farewell to his officers
along his route home to Virginia, crowds cheered for their hero
later, Americans would call on him to lead the country once again
“Such a scene of sorrow and weeping I had never before witnessed…We were about to part from the man who had conducted us through a long and bloody war, and under whose conduct the glory and
independence of our country had been achieved.” Benjamin Tallmadge, Memoir
1. Why did Britain decide to start fighting in the South ?
______
2. How did the Americans and French defeat the British at the Battle of Yorktown ?
______
3. What were the terms of the Treaty of Paris ?
British - ______American -______
4. What factors helped the Americans win the war ?
______
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