1. Third Phase of the War: The South

2. British dissent during the War
British government had never been fully behind the war
The defeat at Saratoga and the intervention of the French worsened this condition
This lack of commitment began to sway public opinion in England against the war
British were forced to commit less troops

3. New British Strategy
British decided to use the division of the colonists against them
Decided to enlist the American population (they felt the majority) which were still loyal to the Crown
Centered this strategy in the Southern colonies because they felt the Loyalist support here was the strongest

4. This strategy was a dismal failure
British greatly overestimated the amount of Loyalist support in the South
British encouraged slaves to join with the British for freedom
A large number did, angering Southerners even further
Southern terrain allowed for more guerilla warfare

5. Politicizing the war
By moving to the South (previously an isolated area) the British forced many who had no opinion on the war and the British to pick a side
Due to the morale of the Patriots and actions taken by the British, most decided on independence

6. Benedict Arnold
A hero of the early battles of the war, General Benedict Arnold, shocked American forces, in particular General Washington
Convinced the Patriot cause was hopeless, Arnold conspired to surrender West Point to the British
However, the conspiracy was leaked before the act could take place
Arnold spent the rest of the war hiding in the safety of a British camp

7. Victory! Cornwallis’ Campaign in the South
British decided to replace General Howe with Sir Henry Clinton as the commander of all British troops in America
Clinton then selected Lord Cornwallis as head of the Southern Campaign
Moving inland to the South, Cornwallis crushed a Patriot army under Nathaniel Gates
Congress recalled Gates and Washington gave command of his army to Nathaniel Greene, considered to be the greatest Colonial General, including Washington

8. Victory! (continued): The Final Turning Point
Using guerilla tactics, Patriot riflemen killed, wounded or captured 1,100 Tories Cornwallis was using as an auxiliary force
Cornwallis retreated to Yorktown, Virginia where he had hoped to evacuate his troops
Pushed there by a French and American army, and then surrounded by the French Naval Fleet, Cornwallis was trapped
Cornwallis, claiming to be sick, sent a deputy to surrender an army of more than 7,000 men