The Yorktown Siege: When Britain's Dominance Collapsed

On October 19, 1781, British General Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Virginia, in the decisive military defeat that effectively ended the American Revolutionary War. This documentary examines the three-week siege that trapped 8,000 British and German soldiers on the Yorktown peninsula.

The surrender resulted from coordinated Franco-American military strategy, with General Washington's Continental Army and French General Rochambeau's forces combining with Admiral de Grasse's fleet to create an inescapable trap. The French naval blockade of Chesapeake Bay prevented British reinforcement, while allied artillery systematically destroyed British defensive positions.

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This educational documentary presents the historical events without dramatization, following the siege from late September through the formal surrender ceremony on October 19. We examine the failed British attempts to break the siege, the negotiation of surrender terms, and the ceremonial transfer of arms that saw Brigadier General O'Hara represent the absent Cornwallis.

The Yorktown surrender eliminated British offensive capability in North America and directly led to peace negotiations in Paris. When news reached London in late November, it ended Parliament's resolve to continue the war militarily. The formal Treaty of Paris, recognizing American independence, would follow in September 1783.

This documentary provides accurate historical information about the military operations, diplomatic protocols, and strategic significance of the Yorktown campaign. Understanding this pivotal moment helps explain how American independence was secured through Franco-American cooperation and the importance of naval superiority in 18th-century warfare.