BFW Revisited: Disruptions in Yorktown

Ben Franklin's World

Liz Covart

History, Society & Culture

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 28 October 2025

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What did it take to end the War for Independence? When we think of the American Revolution’s final chapter, we think of the Siege of Yorktown. Between September 28 and October 19, 1781, British forces endured a siege by the Franco-American forces that ultimately led to a triumphant Franco-American victory, British recognition of American independence, and the birth of a new nation. But the real story of the Yorktown victory is far more layered. It involved international alliances, enslaved people seeking freedom, and years of hardship. Today, we’re revisiting the events of October 1781 as we revisit Episode 333. In this episode, we join three historians–Marcus Nevius, Ed Ayers, and Gretchen Johnson– who help us uncover: How American, French, and British forces converged at Yorktown The vital role of the French army and navy in securing victory And what this final battle looked like on the ground for soldiers, civilians, and Black Virginians alike Show Notes: https://www.benfranklinsworld.com/333 EPISODE OUTLINE00:00:00 Introduction00:03:59 Siege of Yorktown00:05:13 The British Military Approach00:08:50 The Importance of Virginia's Regions00:18:57 The Impact of War on Yorktown00:28:03 Dunmore's Proclamation and the British Strategy00:33:44 The British Invasion of Virginia00:48:00 Aftermath and Legacy00:55:49 ConclusionRECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODES🎧 Episode 162: Dunmore's New World🎧 Episode 208: Turning Points of the American Revolution🎧 Episode 250: Virginia, 1619🎧 Episode 289: Maroonage in the Great Dismal Swamp🎧 Episode 306: The Horse's Tail🎧 Episode 332: Occupied PhiladelphiaSUPPORT OUR WORK🎁 Make a Donation to Ben Franklin’s WorldREQUEST A TOPIC📨 Topic Request Form📫 [email protected] YOU'RE READY🗞️ BFW Gazette Newsletter👩‍💻 BFW Listener Community🌍 The History Explorers Club LISTEN 🎧🍎 Apple Podcasts 💚 Spotify 🎶 Amazon Music🛜 PandoraCONNECT🦋 Liz on Bluesky👩‍💻 Liz on LinkedIn🛜 Liz’s WebsiteSAY THANKS💜 Leave a review on Apple Podcasts💚 Leave a rating on Spotify*Book links are affiliate links. Every purchase supports the podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Hello, this is Matt and McKinley from History Dispatches.
0:07.6	We are the father-son duo bringing you the weird, the wild, the wacky, and the craziest tales from across time.
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0:36.3	learning about the forgotten meaning of the pursuit of
0:38.9	happiness changed my life. When the founders wrote that famous phrase in the Declaration of
0:43.8	Independence, they meant an ongoing commitment to self-improvement and lifelong learning.
0:49.6	This discovery inspired me to write a book, and in my new podcast, I explore the founder's lives with
0:54.9	the historians who know them best. Plus, filmmaker Ken Byrne shares his daily practice of self-reflection.
1:02.1	Join me for Pursuit, the Founders Guide to Happiness.
1:06.1	You're listening to an Airwave Media podcast.
1:17.4	Music listening to an Airwave Media Podcast. Hello, and welcome to Ben Franklin's World Revisited, a series of classic episodes
1:22.8	that bring fresh perspective to our latest episodes and had deeper connections to our
1:27.2	understanding of early
1:28.3	American history. And I'm your host, Liz Covart. What did it take to end the war for independence?
1:36.1	When we think of the American Revolution's final chapter, we think of the siege of Yorktown.
1:41.1	Between September 28 and October 19, 1781, British forces endured a siege by the
1:47.1	Franco-American forces that ultimately led to a triumphant victory, British recognition of American
1:52.9	independence, and the birth of a new nation. But the real story of Yorktown and its victory
	...

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