How the American Revolution Ended
The American Revolution had been going on for five years. The British soldiers
were getting a little suspicious of the Americans so they hired Benedict
Arnold to spy on them. Arnold reported to the British on American army
strengths, supplies, and assignments. The French were not the only ones
to help America; other foreigners came over to fight for America too. He
also said that the American plans were to cooperate with French troops
at Newport, Rhode Island. With Arnold telling them all this information
they knew they didn't stand a chance, so they put their guns down and surrendered
on October 17, 1781 in Yorktown, Virginia. Cornwallis claimed to be sick
so he had his deputy Brigadier General Charles O'Hara hand over his sword.
George Washington refused to deal with a subordinate so he directed O'Hara
to surrender to Major General Benjamin Lincoln. The revolution was still
going on until the Treaty of Paris was signed. On October 19, 1783 the
U.S. ratified a preliminary peace treaty. Then a final peace treaty was
signed in Paris on September 3, 1783 that formally ended the war. When
that was signed it gave the U.S. (United States) land west to Mississippi
River except Florida which was still controlled by Spain.
Home