What the Battle of Yorktown Teaches Us About the American Spriit

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Dear John,

On this day, 242 years ago, George Washington and the Continental Army secured victory at Yorktown, ending the War for Independence and bringing into reality the nation that was conceived some five years earlier with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

But victory did not always seem assured. From 1775, with the outbreak of the war at Lexington and Concord, to our final defeat of the British at Yorktown in 1781, the future of America—and the future of freedom in the world—hung in the balance.

Defeat dogged Washington’s army. In 1776, we lost New York City with the battle of Long Island, and in 1777, at the Battle of Brandywine, we lost our then-capital, Philadelphia. Indeed, until 1780, with the fall of Charleston, and signs of success in Britain’s campaign to defeat us from the South, it was not clear that Patriot forces would prevail.

What sustained the Continental Army during these dark times? How did this rag-tag collection of farmers and shopkeepers rally against the world’s greatest imperial power? What inspired these patriot heroes to risk everything?

It’s simple: the promise of America.

The soldiers who freed America from the British Empire believed that all people are created equal. They knew their rights came from God, not government. And they dared to dream of a better world, a world without tyrant kings or imperial parliaments.

But to make that dream a reality, General Washington knew his most important mission was keeping the army together. To that end, he understood that battles had to be lost for a war to be won. Without ever tainting his honor, he was the master of the tactical retreat, preserving the full strength of his troops, waiting for the opportune moment to strike back against the redcoats. And he was an early practitioner of maneuver warfare, choosing to pit strength against weakness, not strength against strength, as was usual in the traditional, attritional mode of warfare.

Above all, General Washington himself was a shining beacon of hope. He both represented and magnified the spirit of freedom that burned in every Patriot soldier’s heart, ushering forth something altogether new in history. America prevailing at Yorktown was thus more than just—it was providential.

When British soldiers laid down their muskets, the boot of tyranny was not only lifted from American necks, but from all those suffering political oppression. Victory at Yorktown meant that “The World Turned Upside Down ([link removed]) .” The era of monarchy was now over, and the era of republicanism—of liberty, equality, and rule of law—had begun.

Victory at Yorktown birthed a new world, a freer world. And it’s up to us now to teach a new generation about the principles Washington and his men fought for.

That’s why the Jack Miller Center is dedicated to teaching America’s founding principles and history. In K-12 classrooms and on college campuses across the country, JMC is leading a movement to remember and honor the American political tradition. Together, we can revitalize civics education in this country and preserve the patriot legacy of Yorktown.

If you support this mission, would you consider contributing $17.81, $178.10, or $1,781? Click below to learn more.
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Yours gratefully,
Hans Zeiger
President, Jack Miller Center
[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
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