7.7 The War Ends

7.Section 7 The War Ends

Let's Review Our Last Lesson

Answer the next 5 questions to see how well you remember.

Multiple Choice

What state was the battle of Yorktown fought in ?

• Maryland

• England

• Virginia

• Mexico

Multiple Choice

The Battle of Yorktown was fought at land and sea

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What country helped the Americans to win the  battle by defeating the British Navy and preventing the arrival of reinforcements?

• Spain

• Germany

• New England

• France

Multiple Choice

What made the Battle of Yorktown significant?

• It was the first battle of the American Revolution

• It was the first battle of the American Civil War

• English Sarah was there

• It was the last major battle of the American Revolutionary War

Multiple Choice

Who won the war?

• The Americans

• The British

• The French

The War Ends

However, the conclusion of the war did not come as quickly as Martin had hoped. When Lord North, the British prime minister, heard about Cornwallis's defeat at Yorktown, he paced up and down the room repeating, “Oh God! It is all over! ”

The loss at Yorktown drained any remaining support for the war, so when the British people heard about the defeat, most of them accepted it. Still, months dragged by before King George was finally forced to accept that the British had been defeated.

Multiple Choice

Finish the sentence.

The king...

• accepted the defeat.

• did not accept defeat.

Multiple Choice

Finish the sentence.

The British people...

• accepted the defeat.

• did not accept defeat.

For most Americans, the end of the war was a time for joy and celebration.  They had gained the freedom to govern themselves and create their own future.  But liberty came at a high price.  At least 6,200 Americans had been killed in combat, with an additional 10,000 who died in camp because of diseases, and another 8,500 who died while in captivity as British prisoners.  

As a proportion of the total population, more Americans died fighting in the American Revolution than in any other conflict except the Civil War, in which Americans fought one another.

The Treaty of Paris

Early in 1783, representatives of the United States and Great Britain signed a peace treaty in Paris, which had three important parts. 

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FIRST, Great Britain agreed to recognize the United States as an independent nation. 

SECOND, Great Britain gave up its claims to all lands between the Atlantic Coast and the Mississippi River, from the border of Canada south to Florida. ​

THIRD, the United States agreed to return all rights and property taken from Loyalists during the war.

During the war, Loyalists had been treated badly by Patriots, so many did not trust the treaty's promise of fair treatment. As a result, more than 80,000 Loyalists, both black and white, left the United States to settle in British Canada.

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Multiple Choice

How many parts did the peace treaty have?

• 1

• 5

• 3

Multiple Select

Choose the 3 correct responses.

What were the three important parts of the Paris Treaty?

• All Loyalists were forced to move to British Canada.

• Great Britain gave up all land running from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.

• Great Britain gave up all its land running from Canada to Florida.

• The United States returned all rights and property taken from Loyalists.

• Great Britain recognized the United Stated as an independent nation.

The Impact of the American Revolution

The American Revolution had a major impact in other parts of the world. In Europe, liberals became thrilled at the prospect of creating their own democracies.

The American example was especially influential in France, which soon had its own revolution. As one Frenchman wrote, “They [Americans] are the hope of the human race; they may well become its model.” In the 1800s, that model would also help inspire revolts against European rule in South America.

Multiple Select

Choose the two examples of how the American Revolution affected other parts of the world.

• The American Revolution helped inspire revolts against European rule throughout South America.

• The American Revolution inspired the British to work on strengthening their navy.

• The Americans also influenced the French Revolution.

• The American Revolution inspired Spain to sell Florida to the United States.