Who won the War of Yorktown? This pivotal battle, fought in October 1781, marked a turning point in the American Revolutionary War and ultimately led to the independence of the United States. The answer to this question is not as straightforward as one might think, as it involved not just the United States and Great Britain, but also France, which played a crucial role in the outcome.
The War of Yorktown was a result of the complex alliance between the American colonies and France. While the United States and France were the primary belligerents, Great Britain was the ultimate adversary. The French provided significant military and financial support to the American cause, which proved to be instrumental in the victory at Yorktown.
The British forces, led by General Cornwallis, had been stationed in Virginia since the previous year. They had faced numerous setbacks, including the loss of General Washington’s army in the Battle of Brandywine and the Battle of Saratoga. As a result, Cornwallis was forced to retreat to Yorktown, where he believed he could hold out against the combined forces of the Americans and French.
The French, under the command of General Rochambeau, arrived in Virginia in July 1781. They quickly joined forces with General Washington’s Continental Army. The combined forces, numbering around 17,000, laid siege to Yorktown in September. The British, confined to the town and surrounded by land and sea, found themselves in a dire situation.
The French navy, led by Admiral de Grasse, blockaded the British ships in the Chesapeake Bay, preventing them from reinforcing Cornwallis’s forces. This naval blockade was a crucial element in the victory at Yorktown. The combined land and sea forces then began their assault on the British defenses.
After several days of intense fighting, the British defenses at Yorktown were breached. Cornwallis and his remaining forces were forced to surrender on October 19, 1781. This surrender effectively ended the American Revolutionary War and paved the way for the Treaty of Paris, which was signed in 1783, recognizing the independence of the United States.
So, who won the War of Yorktown? The answer is that the United States and France, acting together, emerged as the victors. The combined efforts of the Continental Army, the French military, and the French navy were instrumental in the defeat of the British forces. This victory not only secured the independence of the United States but also laid the foundation for the nation’s future as a global power.
