What factors lead to the British defeat at Yorktown?

Answer 1

(Hope you know your American Revolution!)

Gen. Washington made plans to attack the British at Yorktown, V.A., rather than in New York City

the Patriots hoped for help from the French

in July 1780, French warships appeared off Newport, R.I.; the ships carried soldiers and Comte de Rochambeau, who commanded them; the British arrived soon afterward and trapped the French ships

in autumn 1780, Washington camped north of New York, waiting for the second French fleet the French fleet didn't set sail until summer 1781

Washington followed reports of fighting in the south during 1780-81, knowing the Cornwallis's troops were camped in Yorktown and that Lafayette was keeping them on the Yorktown peninsula

he also learned that Admiral François de Grasse, the French naval commander, was heading toward Chesapeake Bay instead of New York, and changed his plans Washington kept his new strategy secret, wanting to make Clinton think the Patriots still planned to attack the British in New York

hopefully, this would keep Clinton from aiding Cornwallis

meanwhile, Rochambeau marched from Newport to join Washington, and then both rushed south with their armies

the secrecy was so strict that most soldiers didn't know where they were going the troops marched 200 miles in 15 days

Clinton didn't detect the forces heading south toward Virginia, where the three American groups would meet at Yorktown

the plan worked perfectly, as the British were thoroughly confused

by the end of September, 14,000 American/French troops had trapped Cornwallis's 8,000 British/Hessian troops

meanwhile, de Grasse's fleet kept Cornwallis from escaping by sea Clinton and his troops were still up in New York, and couldn't help Cornwallis at all

on October 9, the Americans and the French began a huge bombardment

British supplies ran low, and many soldiers were wounded or sick

Alexander Hamilton, Washington's aide, led an attack that captured key British defenses on October 14

Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781 a few more battles continued after the Battle of Yorktown

the British knew, however, that the war was too costly to continue

both sides sent delegates to Paris to work out a treaty

Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay were the Americans on hand

the final Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783

Answer 2

He depended on Benedict Arnold for reinforcements

Answer 3

1 mistake British made was that General William Howe slowness to take action at the start of the war made it possible for the Americans to survive during 2 difficult winters.

Answer 4

They didn't have in mind that it was a revolutionary war

Answer 5

General Cornwallis was on the edge of a peninsula, completely surrounded by Washington's army& the navy

Answer 6

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