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Chronology
1781
The Battle of Cowpens on January 17), in northern South Carolina, is a
huge American victory. After an exhausting pursuit across North Caro-
lina, a British army under Lord Cornwallis engages the American army
at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15. The British claim vic-
tory, but suffer a casualty rate of 25 percent. In September, the Battle
of the Capes prevents the British from reinforcing or evacuating Corn-
wallis’s army at Yorktown, Virginia. American and French forces begin
a siege of Yorktown. On October 19, Cornwallis surrenders his army of
more than 7,000 men.
1783
The Treaty of Paris is signed on September 3, officially ending the Revo-
lutionary War. The British acknowledge the independence of the United
States