Transcript Yorktown and The Treaty of Paris

The Battle of Yorktown
The World Turned Upside Down
European Leaders
at Yorktown
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British General: Cornwallis
French generals:
Lafayette
Rochambeau
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De Grasse
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Cornwallis was trapped on a peninsula
Only escape was through the Chesapeake Bay,
which was blocked by the French Navy
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Cornwallis did not show up to surrender.
Second in commands surrendered to one
another.
Surrender Songs
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British: “The World Turned Upside Down”
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Americans: “Yankee Doodle”
The Treaty of Paris
1783
Peace At Last
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Peace talks begin in Paris in 1782
Representatives from five nations:
United States
 Great Britain
 France
 Spain
 The Netherlands
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The Players
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Each nation had their own interests:
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Britain:
Avoid giving Americans full independence
 Protect Loyalists still remaining in America
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France:
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America should not become a major power
Spain:
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Interested in acquiring land
Creation of the Treaty
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Continental Congress sends Representatives:
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John Adams
Ben Franklin
John Jay
Thomas Jefferson
Henry Laurens
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Americans feared the French and Spanish would
bargain with British at the expense of the U.S.
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Americans made peace with the British before full
negotiations took place.
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Representatives demanded that Britain recognize full
American independence before talks begin; Britain agrees.
Provisions of Treaty
1.
The United States is
recognized as an
independent nation.
2.
Boundaries of the U.S. are:
a)
b)
c)
d)
3.
North: the Great Lakes
West: the Mississippi River
South: northern Florida
East: The Atlantic Ocean
Gave Americans fishing
rights to waters off the
coast of Canada.
Provisions of Treaty
4. England agrees to remove their soldiers from
America with “all convenient speed.”
5. The U.S. said they would “urge” that property
taken from Loyalists during the Revolution be
returned.
6. Americans should pay debts owed to British
merchants.

No reference to ending slave trade, an original
goal of the Americans
Effects of the Treaty of Paris
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British Recognized Independence, but gave U.S. little respect
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British did not attempt to protect land of Native American allies
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Britain did not specify when they would evacuate their American
forts
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Terms not enforced:
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4: Removal of soldiers from American forts.
5. Much of the confiscated property was not returned and Loyalists
moved to England.
6. Repayment of debt  created a need for stable and trustworthy
financial system
Lingering issues would be resolved during War of 1812