Southern Campaign
British look South Plan to clinch the war with an offensive in the South Use sea power and Loyalists to defeat the south
Charleston 1780 General Henry Clinton attacks and wins Charleston Worst defeat of the war for Americans
Clinton replaced by General Charles Cornwallis Horatio Gates commands American southern army Camden, SC – British win, but last battle they would win in the south
The Swamp Fox Francis Marion (swamp fox) – guerilla warfare Very smart hid in the swamps of South Carolina Basis of Mel Gibson’s character in the Patriot
Turning the Tide 1780 Gates replaced by Nathaniel Green defeats the British at the battle of Cowpens and Guilford Court House King’s Mountain
Cornwallis retreats In 1781 Cornwallis retreats to Yorktown Virginia Washington, Lafayette, and von Steuben move to Virginia Nathaniel Green brings his army in pursuit THE STAGE IS SET FOR AN EPIC BATTLE
Yorktown British trapped by combined force of Washington, and Green along with French Navy General Cornwallis surrenders 10/19/1781 Loss proves to the British that the war is too costly to win
Treaty of Paris 1783 Recognizes independence of the US Gives the United States all the land East of the Mississippi, south of Canada, and north of Spanish Florida All Loyalist property must be restored
How the Americans Won Homeland Advantage Guerilla Warfare foreign aid George Washington