Battle of Yorktown 1781

1. Battle of Yorktown1781 Rachel Toubin & Emma Pearson

2. British General • General Lord Charles Cornwallis • Born in London, England on 12/31/1738 • Attended military academy in Turin, Italy • Member of Parliament in 1760 • Led the New York, Brandywine and Camden campaigns to British victory • Second in command to Gen. Henry Clinton • Shockingly after the war, Cornwallis’s reputation was barely tainted from the defeat

3. Colonies General • General Washington commanded the Americans • Born on February 22, 1732 • Washington showed up to the Second Continental Congress in a military uniform, which showed he was ready for war. • Appointed commander-in-chief of the Continental Army • In October of 1781 George Washington lead the colonies to a victory at the battle of Yorktown .

4. Beginning of Battle • French and Americans vs. British • Occurred in Yorktown, VA and on the Chesapeake Bay • British had the smallest amount of troops to begin with because the Americans and French fought together • American/French arrived in Yorktown Sept.28 1781 forming a semi-circle around the British camp • Cornwallis was expecting another British general to send him relief troops

5. Yorktown Battle • Cornwallis tried heading to the south but the French blocked his escape on sea and Americans blocked it on land • While trying to flee, he left 4 redoubts(forts) without protection which was quickly taken over • After this initial meeting, the battle continued for three weeks with non- stop bombardment • Cornwallis ordered a counterattack • French and American soldiers quickly ended this attack

6. End of Battle • Realizing that the British were not going to win the battle, Cornwallis surrendered • On October 17th 1781, the surrender papers were signed and the battle officially ended on October 19th 1781 • Cornwallis pleading sickness was not at the surrender ceremony instead General Charles O’Hara took his place presenting the sword of surrender to the French and American armies • Causalities French: 254 American: 135 British: 480

7. Who won and how? • With the help of General George Washington the Americans won at Yorktown • With the help of the French, the colonists surrounded the British at Yorktown • British were trapped on land and water and forced the British army to surrender • The two sides signed the formal agreement of the British surrender on October 19.

8. Importance of battle • One of the last battles of the Revolutionary War • Convinced the French that the Americans had a chance of winning the war • Turning point in war where colonies were winning • It ended the Revolutionary War • It lead to a signing of a peace treaty • The colonies got there freedom from this battle

9. Interesting facts • The British tried to surrender to the French, but they made the British surrender to the Americans • The British Prime Minister, Lord Frederick North, resigned after the British defeat and surrender at Yorktown. • The battle lasted around 20 days • The American and French had around 18,000 troops • The British had 8,000 troops