The Battle Of Yorktown, 1781

Question 1

How does Yorktown end ?

Answer 1

• An American victory with Britain surrendering after an intense siege
• biggest consequence: lead to the negotiations of peace and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783

Question 2

Who lead each side of Yorktown? Start with the British?

Answer 2

Led by General Lord Cornwallis

Americans led by Washington and his ally French Lieutenant General Comte de Rochambeau

Question 3

Why was French naval support incredibly important ?

Answer 3

Cornwallis and his forces relied on the Briths navy for their supplies however the French navy blockaded the area and stopped supplies from reaching Yorktown

5 September 1781 French Block navy at Chesapeake bay

Question 4

What are the sizes of each sides army ?

Answer 4

• 9,000 British
• Washington and Rochembeau 8,000+ 12,000 militia men and French soliders

Question 5

What happens during the battle ?

Answer 5

• Britain had a 9k strong force compared the American 19,900
• September 28 to October 17 fighting occurred and on the morning of the 17 British surrendered
• British denied honourable terms of surrender just as the Americans had been denied in Charleston

Question 6

What was the aftermath of the battle ?

Answer 6

• British lost 8589 with Americans only loosing 389
• Marked collapse of British war effort
• Lord North British MP declared ‘Oh god. It is all over. It is all over’ and resigned 15 days later
• Britain still had 30k troops in America and still had control of NY, Charleston and Savannah