The End of the War

Martina and Terrance visit the Yorktown Battlefield

During their travels, Martina and Terrance figured out how the colonists were able to defeat the wealthy, unified country of Great Britain during the Revolutionary War. Martina and Terrance discovered that the colonists’ common goal of attaining independence from the British united them in their fight for freedom. They also noted that the colonists were able to become victors because they were fighting on their own land, they were in the hands of a capable and strategic military leader, and they had very strong allies in the French. All of these reasons led to the fateful day that General Cornwallis found himself surrounded on land and sea. The only choice he had was to surrender at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. America had gained its independence.

Did you save the list you filled out in the Warm-Up activity? Please review that list and check to see how many of the characteristics of a strong military matched the characteristics of the British military during the American Revolutionary War.