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Difficulty: MediumThe Revolutionary War: Military and Diplomacy

Source: Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis, British commander, letter to General Henry Clinton, October 20, 1781.

"I have the mortification to inform Your Excellency that I have been forced to give up the posts of York and Gloucester, and to surrender the troops under my command, by capitulation, on the 19th instant, as prisoners of war to the combined forces of America and France. The position of the French fleet in the Chesapeake, and the lack of any timely relief from our navy, left us with no hope of escape or reinforcements... Under these circumstances, I thought it right to endeavor to save the lives of the brave men who had fought so gallantly."

Which of the following was a direct consequence of the military situation described in the excerpt?

  1. A
    The French government agreed to sign a formal military alliance with the United States.
  2. B
    The American colonists drafted and adopted the Articles of Confederation to raise a national army.
  3. The British government decided to pursue peace negotiations, leading to the Treaty of Paris of 1783.Answer
  4. D
    The Spanish Empire formally entered the war as an open military ally of the United States.

Answer

The British government decided to pursue peace negotiations, leading to the Treaty of Paris of 1783.
The surrender at Yorktown in October 1781 was the decisive military engagement of the Revolutionary War. The loss of Cornwallis's army, combined with the financial strain of fighting a global war against France and Spain, depleted the British Parliament's willingness to fund the conflict. This led directly to the cessation of offensive operations and the initiation of peace talks that concluded with the Treaty of Paris of 1783, in which Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the event described in the primary source excerpt.
The source describes the British surrender at Yorktown in October 1781, emphasizing the joint efforts of American and French forces and the impact of the French naval blockade.
Recognizing the Battle of Yorktown as the context of the letter is critical to identifying its historical consequences.
2
Connect the Battle of Yorktown to its immediate geopolitical and diplomatic effects.
The capture of Cornwallis's army eliminated Britain's operational capability in the South and broke domestic political support in London for continuing the war.
This links the military outcome to the decision-making process of the British government.
3
Examine the chronological order of the options to eliminate incorrect distractors.
The French alliance (1778), the Spanish entry (1779), and the ratification of the Articles of Confederation (1781) all preceded the surrender at Yorktown.
Chronological validation ensures that causes are not confused with subsequent consequences.

Key Concept

The Siege of Yorktown and the conclusion of the Revolutionary War
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Topics

The Revolutionary War: Military and Diplomacy

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