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Britain: Losing and Gaining an Empire, 1763–1914

Britain's defeat, 1777–83

  • 3 things to know
  • Paper 3

Overview

Recall questions on Saratoga and French entry, Spanish and Dutch involvement, Britain's military limitations, Yorktown, and the terms of the peace.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Evaluation

Why did Britain lose the American war?

Key term

What were the consequences of defeat for Britain?

Numbers

How did French and Spanish involvement affect the war?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How did French and Spanish involvement affect the war?

    Model answer

    France (from 1778) and Spain joined against Britain, widening the war, stretching British resources and providing crucial aid to the rebels.

  2. 2

    What were the decisive British defeats of the war?

    Model answer

    Burgoyne's surrender at Saratoga in 1777 and Cornwallis's surrender at Yorktown in 1781.

  3. 3

    How did the war end and with what impact on Britain?

    Model answer

    Britain sought peace and signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783 recognising American independence, a humiliating blow that forced a rethink of empire.

  4. 4

    Why was Saratoga a turning point?

    Model answer

    Burgoyne's surrender of an entire army in 1777 convinced France that the Americans could win, and brought France into the war as an ally.

  5. 5

    How did French entry change the war?

    Model answer

    It became a global naval war: Britain had to defend the Caribbean, India and home waters, so it could no longer concentrate on North America.

  6. 6

    How did Spain and the Dutch affect the conflict?

    Model answer

    Spain joined in 1779 and besieged Gibraltar, the Dutch joined in 1780, and the League of Armed Neutrality left Britain diplomatically isolated.

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AThe government admitted 96 dead and 333 wounded.
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COpponents claimed thousands.

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