Battle of Yorktown
Cornwallis surrendered here
The Battle of Yorktown was the decisive engagement of the American Revolutionary War, fought in 1781 in Virginia.
American and French forces besieged British General Cornwallis, whose surrender effectively ended British efforts to hold the colonies.
The battle demonstrated that French naval and military support had transformed the conflict: The Battle of Yorktown secured American independence.
- CornwallisBritish commander, Revolutionary War
- British surrenderColonial war's conclusion
- white flagSignal of capitulation
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
siege warfare · 1781 · Revolutionary War · American Revolution · turning point · Washington · redcoats · trenches · cannons · Virginia · British · French · Continental Army · colonial troops · independence · muskets · artillery · Lafayette
- Virginia HistoryJamestown, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Colonial Williamsburg, Richmond
- 18th Century WarsSeven Years War, American Revolution, French Revolution, Great Northern War, War of Austrian Succession