Revolutionary war

What was the southern strategy

a plan implemented by the British during the Revolutionary War to concentrate their forces in the southern states of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia

when did France become America’s ally

after Daniel Morgan’s decisive win at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777

what did France becoming an ally do to the British

they started to reevaluate the war that had become a military quagmire

Why did the British implement the southern strategy

they assumed that many southerners remained loyal to the British, and that native Americans and freed slaves would fight with the British for freedom and land rights

meaning of “concentrate their forces”

focus them on a certain area, focus on taking that area over

meaning of “military quagmire”

A prolonged complex military conflict where in a messy situation with no easy way out

Where and how did the British start their campaign

Georgia, captured the colony’s major port, Savannah, included the defection of thousands of colonists to the British in December 1778

What did British land and naval forces do in May 1780

six week siege of Charleston (SC)

What happened after the siege of Charleston

Americans surrendered over five thousand troops and an ample amount of continental supplies, British general Charles Cornwallis fanned his troops into the southern backcountry, using charleston as his base of operations

Why was the summer of 1780 demoralizing for the American war effort

General Horatio Gates’s defeat against Cornwallis at the Battle of camden on August 16, 1780

What began to “incite feelings of resentment among southerners”

the British’s harsh practices, specifically Colonel Banistre Tarleton’s actions in allowing his cavalrymen to slaughter most of an American force at the Battle of Waxhaws in late May 1780, it made him infamous for cruelty in the south

“defection of thousands” meaning

the desertion of one’s country for the cause of an opposing one, Americans in the south deserting the American cause for the British

“six week siege” meaning

six week military blockade to force surrender through isolation

“began to incite feelings of resentment” meaning

feeling of anger and ill will because of unfair treatment or being wronged by the British

What happened as Cornwallis tried to control the backcountry

guerilla bands led by rural militia led by patriots such as Thomas Sumter and Francis Marion began attacking supply trains of Cornwallis and his army

what was Francis Marion known as

the swamp fox

how did the militia prove their growing strength over loyalist forces

At the Battle of King’s Mountain in the NC Backcountry in October 1780

What was the result of the militia’s victory at the Battle of King’s Mountain

boosted morale of southern patriots, continued success of Continental troops under general Nathanael Greene also cut into the certainty of British victory

“guerilla bands” meaning

irregular, independent groups of fighters using surprise raids, sabotage, and hit-and-runs

“boosted the morale” meaning

increased the confidence, enthusiasm, and overall positive emotional state of southern patriots

How did Greene lead Cornwallis into Virginia

divided his army and allowed Cornwallis to chase him there in early 1781

Describe the battles that Greene and Cornwallis’s armies fought in NC

Greene fought evenly at 2 battles in NC, got another strategic win even while technically losing at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse

What happened to Cornwallis after the battle of Guilford

he lost a quarter of his army, abandoned the Backcountry of the Carolinas and moved his army towards the Atlantic coast, he went to Yorktown, allowing Greene’s army to reclaim the Carolina backcountry

What did George Washington do with his army when Cornwallis went to Yorktown

he snuck his army down from the Pennsylvania Region, marching 15 miles a day to race down to Yorktown

Describe the battle of Yorktown

Cornwallis’s army fell under siege at Yorktown by American troops led by Washington and French troops led by the Comte de Rochambeau, French ships on the York River pinned Cornwallis between French navy and French and American troops, he surrendered on October 19

Describe the French’s’ contribution to the battle of Yorktown

USA received French Naval support on the York River inlet by the Atlantic Ocean, they pounded british supply ships and blockaded the British positions, Rochambeau’s army circled the British with the Americans, French ships pinned Cornwallis between them and American troops

What were the reasons for the British surrendered

surrender of the main British army in the south, and pressure from British citizens to stop spending money on the American war after 5 years

Why did Cornwallis move his army to yorktown

he needed to regroup after losing a quarter of his army

who was Daniel Morgan

American, won at the Battle of saratoga

who was Cornwallis

a British general

who was Horatio Gates

an American General who lost against Cornwallis at the Battle of Camden

who was Banistre Tarleton

a strongly disliked British Colonel who allowed his cavalrymen to slaughter most of an American force at the Battle of Waxhaws

who were Thomas Sumter and Francis Marion

patriot leaders who led guerilla bands to attack Cornwallis’s army

who was Nathanael Greene

a capable American General who helped cut into the certainty of British victory

who was Comte de Rochambeau

a French general who led the French army to help at Yorktown