Battle of Yorktown (1781)

The Battle of Yorktown (1781) was a victory by a combined American and French force led by General George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau over a British army commanded by General Lord Charles Cornwallis. The surrender of Cornwallis' army caused the British government to negotiate an end to the American Revolutionary War.

Aftermath

The British prisoners amounted to about a quarter of all redcoats in the American colonies. It was not clear at the time that Yorktown was the climax of the war, since the British still occupied key ports such as New York City and Charleston, South Carolina. Sporadic fighting continued after the Yorktown surrender, and Washington believed the war might drag on for another year.

Related Topics:
American colonies - Charleston, South Carolina

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

However, British Prime Minister Lord North resigned after receiving news of the surrender at Yorktown. His successors decided that it was no longer in Britain's best interest to continue the war, and negotiations were undertaken. The British signed the Treaty of Paris (1783), recognizing the United States and promising to remove all her troops from the country.

Related Topics:
Prime Minister - Lord North - Treaty of Paris (1783) - United States

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~