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1 The Revolutionary War had raged for 6 years after the first shots were fired at Lexington

and Concord in 1775. The British had won many battles, but the Patriots were now

making progress. The turning point of the war had been at Saratoga. French aid only

strengthened their will to win. American morale was soaring to new heights. Continental

Army troops were now better trained and experienced.

2 Down South, British General Lord Charles Cornwallis had a number of wins. His army

arrived in South Carolina in 1780 where it secured the area. His sights then turned to

North Carolina in 1781 where the Patriots were strong. The British defeated American General Greene’s troops many times. Yet he lost a great number of men and supplies. The

cost of victory was depleting the British power to fight. Fresh troops, food, and war

supplies were slow to arrive from England.

3 In May 1781, Cornwallis marched 1,500 men into southeastern Virginia. There he

combined forces with British General Benedict Arnold. The 7,500 redcoats now

approached Williamsburg. To prepare to captureVirginia, Cornwallis started a naval base at

Yorktown. This Chesapeake Bay port would be where fresh troops and supplies could be

unloaded. Once his army reached the town, they dug in. They built massive earthworks and defensive trenches. Now, they

simply had to wait for help.

4 Unknown to Cornwallis was the fact that a French fleet was nearing Virginia. It planned to prevent British reinforcements

or escape by sea. The French were an American ally and had given new troops and supplies to the war effort. Then

George Washington, head of the Continental Army, learned of these plans. He quickly abandoned his idea to capture New

York from the British. With his American and French army, Washington raced his men south and met the British for

battle.

5 The British fort was at the tip of a peninsula, their backs to the water. On September 28, 1781, Washington’s Patriot and

French army of over 22,000 closed off the land route. The British force of 9,700 was now trapped. At sea, a British fleet

battled the French in the Chesapeake Bay but was forced to retreat. The French vessels moved up the bay and anchored

offshore of the redcoats. The British were surrounded and outnumbered. The next day, Cornwallis received word that

reinforcements were coming. All the while, the Patriot army bombarded the fort day and night. Cornwallis withdrew his

troops from of the outer trenches and into the city. The following night, the Patriots occupied those trenches and

continued attacking. The Americans were like a tightening noose around the necks of the British.

6 On October 14, the Patriots attacked the British defenses and shoved the redcoats back. The Americans moved their

cannons closer and continued the barrage at close range. On the night of Oct. 16, Cornwallis attempted to sneak his troops

across the bay to meet a small force of redcoats. If successful, this would have allowed him to link up with

reinforcements. The Patriots had all of the luck. A violent storm attacked and ruined the crossing. Cornwallis knew his

army was too small. He had also watched his ammunition and supplies dwindle and had little hope that reinforcements

would arrive to turn the tide of battle. On October 19, he formally surrendered to Washington.

7 Yorktown was the last major battle of the war. The British suffered around 150 killed and 325 wounded. The Americans

had 80 deaths and 300 injured. Fighting continued for two years more, but Britain was no longer able to mount a

major campaign again. England saw no hope of winning after the war. It signed the Treaty of Paris on September 3,

1783. America was now an independent nation.

Battle of Yorktown *

Yorktown

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Directions: Read each question and circle the best answer.

1. Why did Cornwallis feel the need to surrender?

A. he needed his soldiers

later in the warB. he did not want to

fight Washington

C. he felt Yorktown

was not worth holdingD. he was out of supplies,

outnumbered and surrounded *

2. What event ended the Revolutionary War?

A. the British defeat at

YorktownB. The Treaty of Paris * C. the capture of

Cornwallis

3. Why did the British occupy Yorktown?

A. to build a naval base * B. to keep the town out

of Patriot hands

C. they were trapped

there by the Americans

4. Why did Washington abandon his plan to capture New York?

A. he felt New York was aless important target

B. he felt the capture of

Cornwallis’s army might

end the war *

C. he wanted the chance

to defeat Cornwallis

5. How did Cornwallis try to escape Yorktown?

A. he built earthworks

to defeat the US and

leave

B. he tried to sneak soldiers

across the bay at night *C. he tried to bring a

British fleet up the bay

6. How long was the Revolutionary War?

A. 7 years B. 8 years * C. 9 years

7. Why was the Battle of Yorktown so important?

A. was the first time that

US and French soldiers

fought together

B. was the last major

battle; England sought peace *

C. was a major defeat for

Gen. CornwallisD. it was a major victoryfor Washington

D. 5 years

D. he hid behind defensesuntil help arrived

D. he wished to use hisFrench soldiers toweaken the British

D. to wait there forhelp to arrive

D. the British grewtired and withdrew

Yorktown

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9. Which of the following would be the best title for paragraph 4?

A. The British Attack B. The French Fleet

AttacksD. New York Abandoned

10. Which of the following events happened last?

A. redcoats try a

nighttime escape *B. the French fleet

anchors off Yorktown

C. earthworks and

trenches are builtD. Washington learns

about the French fleet

11. Which of the following could be another title for the article?

A. Yorktown Falls * B. The Turning Point C. Britain’s Last Fight D. The Patriots Win

12. Which word best completes the analogy?

Washington is to attack as Cornwallis is to

A. victory B. defeat C. defend * D. retreat

13. What would be an antonym for the word secured in paragraph 2?

A. released * B. held C. protected D. searched

14. The sentence, “The Americans were like a tightening noose around the necks of the British” from paragraph 5 is an

example of—

A. simile * B. metaphor C. personification D. idiom

C. WashingtonChanges Plans *

8. Which definition applies to the word mount from paragraph 7?

A. to go up; climb B. to set or place onhorseback

C. to raise or put intoplace

D. to prepare and launch *