The British had gone to to the coast, and were waiting for reinforcements from England. At the same time, the Americans were strengthening in number and they had not long before got the aid of the French. They had a fleet organized to come over and blockade the coming reinforcements. The French happened to get there with their fleet first and set up their blockade. The British had nowhere to go and they were surrounded by Americans and the French were at sea blocking the British from receiving their reinforcements. The French fought off the British fleet, and finally, General Cornwallis, had his men surrender.
American Revolution
french soldiers
France
The Battle of Yorktown in 1781.
During the American Revolutionary War, the American victory at Yorktown (Virginia) in 1781 resulted in the end of the war because of the significant British losses in that battle. Losing over 7,000 soldiers after also having their fleet routed, the British reckoned that the war had become too costly; to continue it (let alone pursue final victory in it) was simply not affordable.
Yorktown.
Samual Adams
at Yorktown Cornwallis surrendered
Yorktown
After their victory at Yorktown.
The most important thing George Washington had to do at Yorktown was successfully coordinate a joint assault with French forces to trap British General Cornwallis. This resulted in the decisive American victory at the Battle of Yorktown, which ultimately led to the surrender of Cornwallis and effectively ended the American Revolutionary War.
American and French troops bombarded Yorktown, turning the buildings to rubble.