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How Did George Washington Change American History

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George Washington changed American History by commanding the Continental Army during the War for Independence. First off, Washington used the strategy of attrition to wear the British out during the war. Secondly, Washington helped to raise morale by winning the battles of Trenton and Princeton. Finally, Washington helped the United States by forcing the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Overall, his tactic of attrition helped to win the war. Without Washington’s aide, America would still be part of the British colonies today. To help win the War for Independence, George Washington used the strategy of attrition. The strategy of attrition includes Washington prolonging the war as long as he possibly can to wear out the British of supplies …show more content…

Washington and the Continental Army had finally won the War for Independence and were free to have a country under the control of its own people instead of the British government. Originally, Cornwallis planned to keep his troops at Old Fort Comfort. In The Battle of Yorktown: Explora Public Libraries by Eric Badertscher, it states that “Cornwallis' engineers told him that Old Point Comfort was not defensible enough, so the general decided to establish Yorktown as his main base.” This move lead to the cornering of Cornwallis’ and his troops in Yorktown. Cornwallis brought his troops to Yorktown and was then trapped by the Continental Army along with the assistance of the French. The army kept Cornwallis and his soldiers from being able to escape by land, while the French Navy had trapped the British ships from escaping by sea. Out of supplies, Cornwallis finally raised the white flag and surrendered to Washington and his troops on October 19, 1781. The Articles of Capitulation gave the land troops of the British to the United States as prisoners of war, and the navy ships to the French. Cornwallis wrote that “The garrisons of York and Gloucester including the officers and seamen of his Britannic Majesty’s ships, as well as other mariners, to surrender themselves prisoners of war to the combined forces of America and France. The land troops to remain prisoners to the United States, the navy to the naval army of his Most Christian Majesty,” in Article I. Washington’s victory over Cornwallis, forcing his surrender, played a crucial role in Washington’s impact on American History. This victory led to his presidency of the United

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Washington and Rochambeau marched an army from New York to Virginia to join with other French forces while de Grasse sailed with soldiers to the Chesapeake Bay and the York River. Because of the precision of the positioning, they were able to capture Cornwallis and his troops. On October 17, 1781, after some resistance, Cornwallis surrendered he and his army of 7,000 men. Though this didn’t win the Americans the war immediately, it put them way ahead of the British. This incident brought forth outcries in England against continuing the war; about two years later, after hardly any significant battles, the Americans and the British signed a final treaty on September 3, 1783.

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At this point, the British had Long Island under control and New Jersey occupied. The rebels were basically trapped. George Washington did not give up, however. He knew that most of his troops had contracts that would expire by the end of December, and they would probably disband then. He decided to attack the Hessian held town of Trenton just across the Delaware River.

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It was an excellent move on Washington’s part because the British did not even see it coming. The American Colonists were at an advantage. And because of Washington’s move they won the victory. Then everyone knew that George Washington was a terrific military leader. Furthermore, historians have pointed out that because of Washington’s victory he was most definitely going to lead his army into another battle, The Battle of Princeton (militaryhistory.com).

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And the French Navy was in the harbor, effectively cutting off any alley of escape or chance of reinforcements. The British army was defeated. With no hope of escape, Cornwallis surrendered to Gen. Washington. Thomas Jefferson called it "The turn of the tide of success. "

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Our general, George Washington, had a plan to have our army block Cornwallis, the British general, from escaping from Yorktown by land while the French naval fleet blocked the British escape by sea. This meant that Washington had the British encircled. After three weeks of non-stop bombardment, both day and night, from cannon and artillery Cornwallis surrendered to Washington in the field at Yorktown on October 17, 1781. We had won the war for independance after 8 long years of fighting. My friends and I were ecstatic for the win, but we were also now able to go back to our families.

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