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