Siege of Yorktown Essay

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The Siege of Yorktown Upon the eve of the conclusion of this war, American forces and British forces have seen each other in battle for a sum of seven years. Once allies and the controlling body of one nation, Britain and Colonial American are now on the opposite side of each other in battle, all in the name of freedom. The British believe that they are the controlling body of the American Colonies and have the right to claim their once owned land again. The American Colonies believe that their time is now and that they have the right to gain freedom from their tyrannical leaders. The American and British believed that their cause is just, which lead to the American Revolution. With all the battles and conflicts throughout the American Revolution, the Siege of Yorktown is noted as the most powerful of all. The reason for its notoriety above all other battles in the American Revolution is that, this battle concludes to the American Revolution and gains access to freedom for the American Colonies.
Lord Cornwallis, following a battle in North Carolina with American General Nathaniel Greene at the Battle of Guilford Court House headed to Virginia were Yorktown awaited his command along with 3500 troops. Lord Cornwallis who had lost a quarter of his troops at the Battle of Guilford Court House, decided to head to Virginia despite orders to secure North Carolina. The reason for his belief in the security of North Carolina without his command was because of the Georgia and South Carolina’s fall to the British in the month’s preceding. With Lord Cornwallis making his way to secure Virginia General Nathaniel Green made his way to the southern colonies to unravel the British control of the Southern colonies.
The Siege of Yorktown started on September 28th 1781, the American forces align with the French forces against the British Military. The American and French forces aligned themselves in 1778 after the Battle of Saratoga allowing for the Treaty of Alliance which allowed for a Franco-American Alliance during the remainder of the American Revolution. Along with the Treaty of Alliance came the Treaty of Amity and Commerce allowing for trade amongst the two countries upon victory. The American forces under the command of General George Washington and French forces under the command General Rochambeau were facing the British forces under the command of Lieutenant-General Charles Cornwallis. The staggering number of forces accumulated at the
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