Kick-Off Question 10/30 How did the Battle of Saratoga lead to French aid to the Patriots? Did the aid really turn the tide of the war? 1 Paragraph 10 minutes

Independence SECTION 4

The War in the South British forces found the American army a formidable enemy The British decided to switch strategies and focus on the south instead of the north British hoped to find support from the large loyalist population in Georgia, the Carolinas, and Virginia Their plan involved freeing slaves along the way and enlist British soldiers Britain's southern campaign was under new leadership, General Henry Clinton Early success showed this strategy was paying off

The War in the South Fighting in the south was especially brutal Americans were fighting loyalists in direct combat The British destroyed crops, farm animals and other property as they advanced through the south. Georgia was the last colony to join the revolution was the first to fall to the British In 1778 the British easily captured Savannah and instilled a new Colonial government Charleston was the next major target for the British

The War in the South: Charleston In early 1780, British General Clinton landed 14,000 redcoats around the port city The British one again scored an easy victory, suffering 250 casualties The Patriots surrendered in May, handing over 4 ships and 5400 prisoners

The War in the South: South Carolina In August 1780, Patriot forces led by Horatio Gates attempted to repel the British advance at Camden, South Carolina The attack was poorly executed. He had only half of planned soldiers, they were tired and hungry, many panicked an ran. The attack quickly fell apart Of the 4000 American troops only about 700 escaped General Nathan Greene arrived to reorganize the army, as he rode through the southern countryside he became discouraged and later wrote “ I had never witnessed such scenes”

The War in the South: Guerrilla Warfare The southern patriots switched tactics to a swift hit-and run style of attack Known for this style of fighting, Francis Marion who organized a group of guerrilla soldiers called Marion's Brigade They used surprise tactics to disrupt British communication and supply lines Despite best efforts the British were unable to capture the Marion Brigade

Battle of Yorktown 1781 War was going bad for the Patriots They were low on money, supplies and men The British held most of the south, New York and Philadelphia Making matters worse Benedict Arnold turned traitor Continental forces regrouped by Nathanael Greene began harassing British forces in the Carolina’s Hoping to stay in communication with the British fleet General Cornwallis moved hos army of 7200 men to Yorktown Washington hoping to trap Cornwallis he ordered Lafayette to block his retreat by land

Battle of Yorktown Washington then combined his 2500 troops with 4000 French troops Washington swiftly marched his Army to Virginia and cut off other escape routes The patriots surrounded Cornwallis with soldiers Meanwhile the French fleet had seized control of the Chesapeake Bay preventing a Cornwallis escape by sea leaving his army stranded Washington then began his siege of the British forces Fighting persisted for weeks steadily wearing down British defenses In early October Washington prepared for a major assault on British troops Cornwallis knew he faced certain defeat On October 19, 1781 Cornwallis sent a drummer and a soldier with a white flag of surrender to Washington’s camp The patriots took 8000 prisoners, the largest British army in America The battle of Yorktown was the last major battle of the Revolutionary War

The Treaty of Paris Lacking money to build a new army, Britain entered in peace talks with America Delegates took more than two years to come to an agreement As part of the treaty, Great Britain recognized the independence of the Unites States A separate treaty returned Florida to Spain British leaders also accepted American rights to settle and trade west of the 13 original colonies