1. The American Revolution: 1776-1783
The Battles Part II

2. Struggles in the South
In early years, colonists won many battles in south
Crushed Loyalist militia at Battle of Moore’s Creek (Wilmington)
Saved Charles Town too
But Brits realized underestimated Americans
Changed their strategy
Hard-hitting offensive
Concentrated their efforts in south
More loyalist support
Major cities were port cities
Use British navy to assist
Strategy works!

3. Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis
British Victories
Major General Lord Charles Cornwallis
Late British Gen. in Command Henry Clinton sends 3,500 redcoats to take Savannah, GA
Brits take city, & most of state
1780- Clinton himself heads south
Attacks Charles Town, SC
Surrender in May
Take 1,000’s of prisoners!
WORST DEFEAT of war
Clinton heads back to NY
Leaves Gen. Lord Cornwallis in command of war in south
Continentals send Gates’ army to take him on
1780- Met at Camden, SC
Easily defeats Gen. Gates who flees

4. Guerrilla Warfare New style of warfare overtakes countryside
Colonial militia appeared suddenly, struck, then disappeared
Called…
Guerrilla Warfare, hit-&-run technique
Catches Brits off-guard
Leader of these Patriot guerillas, Francis Marion
Operated out of the swamps of SC
Known as the “Swamp Fox”
Quick & extremely smart
Basis of main character in The Patriot

5. Patriot Victories in the Carolinas
After Cornwallis’ victory over Camden, SC
Move north through NC
Sept. King’s Mountain
Brit officer & 1,000 Loyalists try to defend it
Patriots attack
Force British retreat of Mt.
Victory brings new support for Colonials
Oct Gen. Gates is replaced by Nathaniel Greene
Splits Continental army of South in 2
Jan Colonials under Gen. Daniel Morgan defeat Battle of Cowpens, SC
Reunite March to take on Cornwallis at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse
Present-day Greensboro, NC
Colonials forced to retreat, but…
Losses so severe for Brits, Cornwallis leaves the Carolinas

6. British Retreat April 1781- Cornwallis marches north to VA
Raids throughout the state
Nearly captures VA Governor Thomas Jefferson!
Jefferson flees on horseback just ahead of Redcoats
Washington sends Lafayette south to take on Cornwallis
Cornwallis sets up Yorktown
Awaiting orders from Clinton in NY
War in south about to come to bloody end!

7. Change in Plans Washington knew of the fighting in the south
Knew Cornwallis was bottled up at Yorktown, VA
G-Dub had previously sent Lafayette’s troops to keep them from north
August nd French fleet heads to the Chesapeake instead of NYC
Washington hatches NEW Patriot plan…
Keep Clinton thinking they would attack NYC, but secretly move south instead
This would keep Clinton in the north
Can’t help Cornwallis from disaster approaching
Rochambeau and Washington secretly march 200 miles in 15 days to meet up w/ Lafayette north of Yorktown
Meet up w/ 2 French fleets
Basically…
3 armies north
2 French fleets off east coast
Continental Army of the south (left intact when Cornwallis gave up on Carolinas)
All surrounding Cornwallis’ Yorktown, VA

8. Are these guys ever gonna attack… I am soooo bored!!!
The Siege of Yorktown
Are these guys ever gonna attack… I am soooo bored!!!
Washington wondered if complicated plan would work
Hoped he had fooled Clinton
Hoped French fleet would reach Yorktown in time
5 September 1781
G-Dub receives news that fleet is nearly there
Plan worked perfectly, and Brits still bored waiting in NYC!!!
14,000 Patriot and French troops had the 7,500 Brit and Hessian troops of Cornwallis trapped!!!
French fleets kept Cornwallis from escaping by sea
Continentals of South kept from retreating south
Meanwhile, Clinton sits and waits bored in NYC waiting for the attack that would never come

9. Cornwallis’ Defeat 9 October 1781- 19 October 1781-
American and French forces begin massive bombardment
So extreme, bodies lay everywhere of Cornwallis’ army
Supplies run low for Brits and so many soldiers dead or wounded
Cornwallis realizes the hopelessness of the situation
19 October 1781-
Cornwallis surrenders
Patriots had won the Battle of Yorktown
Brits marched b/t rows of French and Patriot forces handing over their weapons
Cornwallis surrenders his sword to Washington!

10. Independence Fighting didn’t end @ Yorktown
Brits still held Savannah, Charles Town, & NYC
Few more fights but…
Yorktown convinces crown war too costly to con’t
2 sides send delegates to Paris to work out treaty
Ben Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay for USA
3 September Treaty of Paris signed ending the war
Also peace treaties b/t French and Spanish too
Terms for Brits
Great Britain would recognize USA as independent nation
Land claim from Atlantic to Mississippi R. and Canada to Spanish Florida
Brits withdraw all troops from territory
Fishing rights off coast of Canada
Terms for USA
USA would allow Brit merchants to collect debts from colonists
Loyalist land would be returned

11. Why the Americans Won How did they manage to win?
How defeat strongest military in world?
Patriots had several advantages…
Fought on own land
French and Spanish aid
Soldiers, navy, generals, $$$
Blocked Brit navy
Brits could control cities, but not countryside
Patriots knew terrain, and could hide easily
Brave, impulsive generals
Most important…
It was the people’s cause
Had personal interest in outcome
Determination and spirit that could never be beaten

12. The Influence of the American Revolution on the World
1776- colonists began a revolution
Making clear principles of freedom and rights of people
Ideas lead influence to French people to question their own lives
Ideas shouted by French rebels during French Revolution in 1789
Caribbean Islands push for independence as well
But from France!?!
When France overthrown by natives and slaves in Caribbean, Haiti in particular…
European control in the New World began to quickly disappear