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The Siege of Yorktown was the final and most significant fight that took place throughout the years of the American Revolutionary War. During the month of October in the year 1781, American and French troops laid siege to the British army led by General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia. On the 19th of October, Cornwallis was compelled to submit after being encircled on both land and water. By virtue of this victory, the path to freedom for the American people was laid, and the end of British dominion over the colonies was initiated.

The significance of this event lies in the fact that it illustrates how military strategy, international diplomacy, and willpower can work together to shape history. The American and French soldiers worked together to employ siege tactics in an effort to undermine the British bastion and prevent the British from escaping. We are able to appreciate the time when the United States of America truly achieved her freedom because we are familiar with Yorktown.

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Prior to the Battle of Yorktown, the Revolutionary War had already lasted for six years. By 1781, the British had shifted their focus to the southern colonies, with the expectation that the support of the Loyalists would bring about a change in the situation. General Cornwallis, who was in charge of British forces going over the Carolines and into Virginia, was finally successful in establishing a foothold at Yorktown, which was located along the York River.

His plan planned for the maintenance of a stronghold that the British navy would be able to supply and protect. The American Continental Army and their French allies, on the other hand, had ideals that were rather different. At the same time that the French naval forces were sealing off the coast, so preventing Cornwallis from escaping or receiving reinforcements, they marched in tandem from New York to Virginia.

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Many powerful people helped the siege to produce its result. General George Washington was leading American soldiers at the same time that French General Rochambeau was guiding them. Under Admiral de Grasse, the French navy proved successful in stopping the British from sailing back along the coast. Edward M. Riley says the allies "constructed another work to complete the line," which made it difficult for anyone to escape (Riley, 185).

The formal start of the siege came late in September, and on October 9th the allies started a major artillery bombardment. The British battled to hold their position even though their defenses were inadequate. Riley notes in passing "the entire allied artillery joined in one of the most destructive bombardments of the war" (Riley, 188). Ten days later, Cornwallis came upon more than seven thousand troops.

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I chose the Siege of Yorktown because it caught my interest the moment I started reading about it. The way the armies built their positions, coordinated movements, and used strategy reminded me of the video game Age of Empires. That game taught me how sieges and defenses worked, and this event felt like the real-life version of that.

It was fascinating to learn how people in the 1700s made tactical decisions with limited communication, relying on maps, scouts, and planning. Understanding this part of history made me appreciate how independence wasn't just declared—it had to be fought for.

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One might find a great legacy starting at Yorktown. It proved that the United States and France's alliance was strong and successful and ended a significant portion of fighting during the Revolutionary War. Riley notes in particular "the surrender at Yorktown, more than any other event, marked the end of British colonial ambitions in America" (Riley, 183).

This triumph led the British government to decide to start peace negotiations, which finally produced the Treaty of Paris signed in 1783. That treaty formally acknowledged the United States of America as a sovereign nation in official capacity. Yorktown is today a symbol of unity, strategy, and the effective finishing of the last push toward freedom.

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“Map showing allied and British positions during the siege

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Riley, Edward M. "Yorktown During the Revolution: Part II. The Siege of Yorktown, 1781." The

Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, vol. 59, no. 2, Apr. 1951, pp. 175–188. JSTOR,

www.jstor.org/stable/4245621

https://youtu.be/HlUiSBXQHCw?si=4T9mW8c_48cxHjkR

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Tea, Taxes, and The American Revolution: Crash Course World History #28