Yorktown
Cornwallis’ surrender
Treaty of Paris
Results of treaty
1
Yorktown August-October, 1781
2
Washington’s March to
Yorktown 1781
Washington and his forces
marched from New York to
Virginia and joined with
French and American
forces led by Lafayette,
and De Grasse. Their plan
was to trap Cornwallis at
Yorktown.
Cornwallis was surrounded
by the French fleet as well
as the 17,000 men
commanded by
Washington, De Grasse,
and French General
Rochambeau.
3
Yorktown
Britain
Colonists
Cornwallis
George Washington
Comte de Rochambeau
Marquis de Lafayette
Comte de Grasse
Britain: 7,200 (includes German
troops)
American: 8,000 regulars
3,100 militia
French: 7,800-8,800
29 war ships
Total: 18,900-19,900
Total: 7,200
142-309 killed
326 wounded
595 prisoners
7,685 captured
88 killed
301 wounded
4
Fighting at Yorktown 1781
5
French are in Caribbean,
Washington outside New York
6
French start their move to Virginia
with 28 Ships, 3,000 men, and money
to pay Washington’s Army.
7
Washington’s 5,000 Men start
heading South.
8
They meet in Yorktown, Virginia.
9
First De Grasse ships cut off
Chesapeake.
10
Washington takes the South.
11
French take the West. 17,000
French and Colonial soldiers
surround Cornwallis.
12
The city was
surrounded and
under heavy fire as
Cornwallis’ position
was assaulted by
nearly 17,000 men
led by Washington,
De Grasse, and
Lafayette.
On October 14, two
British positions were
captured by French
and American forces.
Cornwallis realized
that his position was
hopeless, and offered
to surrender.
On October 19,
Cornwallis formally
surrendered.
13
Cornwallis’ surrender
Washington
Cornwallis
14
The surrender
Cornwallis surrendered
himself and over 8000 men
as prisoners of war. This
signified the last major
battle of the Revolution.
According to reports,
Cornwallis was too “sick”
to show up for the
surrender, so he had a
subordinate officer offer
the surrender sword.
Washington responded by
having one of his
subordinate officers accept
the sword. (Ben Lincoln)
The war officially ended
almost 2 years later with
the Treaty of Paris.
15
The World Turned Upside Down
Some say this was played by the British military band as
Cornwallis surrendered to Washington at Yorktown
If buttercups buzz'd after the bee,
If boats were on land, churches on sea,
If ponies rode men and if grass ate the
cows, And cats should be chased into
holes by the mouse, If the mamas sold
their babies To the gypsies for half a
crown;
If summer were spring and the other
way round, Then all the world would be
upside down.
16
The Treaty of Paris 1783
This painting of the signing of the treaty, by artist Benjamin West, was
never finished because the British commissioners refused to pose.
17
The treaty between
the U.S. and Great
Britain was signed
on
September 3, 1783.
Britain also signed
separate treaties
with France and
Spain that were
known as the
Treaty of Versailles
of 1783.
18
Treaty provisions
 U.S. independence
 British evacuation of frontier forts
 U.S. territory boundaries extended from the
Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River,
and from the Great Lakes to Florida
 Fishing rights to U.S. fishermen off the
Canadian coast
 Restoration of Loyalist property
 Lawfully contracted debts were to be paid to
creditors on either side
 Exchange of prisoners of war
19
As a result of the Treaty of Paris, the United States not
only gained independence, but also gained substantial
geographic territory.
20