CONTENT WARNING
Materials in the Library of Virginia’s collections contain historical terms, phrases, and images that are offensive to modern readers. These include demeaning and dehumanizing references to race, ethnicity, and nationality; enslaved or free status; physical and mental ability; and gender and sexual orientation.
Context
In the eighteenth century, Virginia's location on the mid-Atlantic seaboard was a key point along colonial trade routes, communication corridors, and military supply lines. Virginia also boasted natural harbors and successful ports in the areas of Hampton Roads and the Chesapeake Bay. The city of Norfolk and the mouths of the James and Elizabeth Rivers were pivotal military and economic control points to increase or limit the amount of food, goods, and military supplies in and out of the region. During the Revolutionary War, the British tried to seize control of this critical region. Two battles led to major turning points—ones that ultimately determined positive outcomes for the Americans.
Great Bridge
On December 9, 1775, several hundred colonial troops and British soldiers clashed at the Great Bridge on the Elizabeth River, about ten miles south of Norfolk. This was a choke point along the trade road into the southern colonies and whoever possessed it could control the supply line of the south. The British troops, which included Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment of formerly enslaved Black men, attempted to march across the bridge, but were cut down by the fire of Virginia militiamen. The British troops suffered heavy losses and survivors retreated back toward Norfolk. With the victory in Virginia's first major battle of the war, the patriots secured the supply route and further diminished support for the Crown in the colony.
The Virginia militia forced a British retreat to Norfolk. The British suffered heavy losses—almost half of its 120-soldier regiment was killed, captured, or wounded. It also strengthened patriot resolve, and showed the potential strength of the American military, which reported only one mildly injured soldier after the battle took place. With the victory at Great Bridge, Virginia's first land battle of the war, the supply route had been secured for the colonies in the South, and most remaining support for the Crown waned. The battle also forced Governor Dunmore out of the region, and the road to Norfolk remained open.
Yorktown
Most of the fighting during the early years of the American Revolution occurred in the northern colonies, but the lack of success forced the British to concentrate on the southern colonies after 1778. In 1780, the Americans received a much-needed boost from the addition of 5,500 French troops under the command of Comte de Rochambeau and a fleet directed by Admiral de Grasse. Although George Washington wanted to attack British forces in New York, Rochambeau and de Grasse set their sights on Virginia.
After British defeats at Kings Mountain and Cowpens, in South Carolina, and a victory that cost him twenty-five percent of his troops at Guildford Courthouse, in North Carolina, British commanding general Lord Cornwallis withdrew to Virginia to recover. Cornwallis established a base at Yorktown, where he hoped to receive reinforcements and supplies. But in September 1781, the French fleet defeated the British at the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay and established a naval blockade. More than 17,500 American and French troops arrived at Yorktown and successfully laid siege to the town. After more than a week of bombardment, General Cornwallis surrendered on October 19. The siege of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution. Several months later, the British government voted to discontinue the war, although it was not until 1783 that the Treaty of Paris established the United States as a nation independent from Britain.
Vocabulary Words
• absolute location—the actual location of a point on the earth's surface, usually in terms of latitude and longitude coordinates or a physical address of a place
• cardinal directions—the directions of north, east, south, and west
• cartouche—the ornamental or decorative framing of inscriptions, titles, symbols, and other relevant information on a map
• choke point—a narrow route providing passage through or to another region
• compass rose—a symbol that shows direction (north, east, south, and west) on a map
• map—a drawing that shows what places look like from above and where they are located
• map legend—a list of shapes and symbols used on a map and an explanation of what each one represents
• map scale—map tool used to measure distance between locations
• region—a place that has common characteristics that are different from the characteristics of the surrounding areas
• relative location—a concept described by using terms that show connections between two places, such as next to, near, or bordering.
• Piedmont—in Virginia, the part of the central region stretching from the Eastern Fall Line of the James, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
• title—the name or kind of map
• topography—the shapes, contours, and elevations of landforms
• symbol—a picture or thing that represents something else
Citations: A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland . . . drawn by Joshua Fry & Peter Jefferson in 1751 [1755] and John Henry, A new and accurate map of Virginia wherein most of the counties are laid down from actual surveys . . . ., 1770, both in Voorhees Map Collection, Library of Virginia.
Related Document Bank entries
Battle of Great Bridge, William Woodford Letter, 1775
Seige at Yorktown, Map, 1781
Great Bridge
On December 9, 1775, several hundred colonial troops and British soldiers clashed at the Great Bridge on the Elizabeth River, about ten miles south of Norfolk. This was a choke point along the trade road into the southern colonies and whoever possessed it could control the supply line of the south. The British troops, which included Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment of formerly enslaved Black men, attempted to march across the bridge, but were cut down by the fire of Virginia militiamen. The British troops suffered heavy losses and survivors retreated back toward Norfolk. With the victory in Virginia's first major battle of the war, the patriots secured the supply route and further diminished support for the Crown in the colony.
The Virginia militia forced a British retreat to Norfolk. The British suffered heavy losses—almost half of its 120-soldier regiment was killed, captured, or wounded. It also strengthened patriot resolve, and showed the potential strength of the American military, which reported only one mildly injured soldier after the battle took place. With the victory at Great Bridge, Virginia's first land battle of the war, the supply route had been secured for the colonies in the South, and most remaining support for the Crown waned. The battle also forced Governor Dunmore out of the region, and the road to Norfolk remained open.
Yorktown
Most of the fighting during the early years of the American Revolution occurred in the northern colonies, but the lack of success forced the British to concentrate on the southern colonies after 1778. In 1780, the Americans received a much-needed boost from the addition of 5,500 French troops under the command of Comte de Rochambeau and a fleet directed by Admiral de Grasse. Although George Washington wanted to attack British forces in New York, Rochambeau and de Grasse set their sights on Virginia.
After British defeats at Kings Mountain and Cowpens, in South Carolina, and a victory that cost him twenty-five percent of his troops at Guildford Courthouse, in North Carolina, British commanding general Lord Cornwallis withdrew to Virginia to recover. Cornwallis established a base at Yorktown, where he hoped to receive reinforcements and supplies. But in September 1781, the French fleet defeated the British at the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay and established a naval blockade. More than 17,500 American and French troops arrived at Yorktown and successfully laid siege to the town. After more than a week of bombardment, General Cornwallis surrendered on October 19. The siege of Yorktown was the last major battle of the American Revolution. Several months later, the British government voted to discontinue the war, although it was not until 1783 that the Treaty of Paris established the United States as a nation independent from Britain.
Vocabulary Words
• absolute location—the actual location of a point on the earth's surface, usually in terms of latitude and longitude coordinates or a physical address of a place
• cardinal directions—the directions of north, east, south, and west
• cartouche—the ornamental or decorative framing of inscriptions, titles, symbols, and other relevant information on a map
• choke point—a narrow route providing passage through or to another region
• compass rose—a symbol that shows direction (north, east, south, and west) on a map
• map—a drawing that shows what places look like from above and where they are located
• map legend—a list of shapes and symbols used on a map and an explanation of what each one represents
• map scale—map tool used to measure distance between locations
• region—a place that has common characteristics that are different from the characteristics of the surrounding areas
• relative location—a concept described by using terms that show connections between two places, such as next to, near, or bordering.
• Piedmont—in Virginia, the part of the central region stretching from the Eastern Fall Line of the James, Rappahannock, and Potomac rivers to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
• title—the name or kind of map
• topography—the shapes, contours, and elevations of landforms
• symbol—a picture or thing that represents something else
Citations: A map of the most inhabited part of Virginia containing the whole province of Maryland . . . drawn by Joshua Fry & Peter Jefferson in 1751 [1755] and John Henry, A new and accurate map of Virginia wherein most of the counties are laid down from actual surveys . . . ., 1770, both in Voorhees Map Collection, Library of Virginia.
Related Document Bank entries
Battle of Great Bridge, William Woodford Letter, 1775
Seige at Yorktown, Map, 1781
Standards
Social Studies: K.5, K.7, 1.4, 1.6, 2.7, VS.4, USI.6, VUS.5
Science: 6.8
Goals and Guiding Principles:
This lesson will analyze the 1755 Fry-Jefferson and the 1770 John Henry maps of Virginia, allowing students to identify two important events during the Revolutionary War: the battles of Great Bridge and Yorktown. Students will develop geographic skills by understanding basic map symbols and locating geographic features. By examining the physical geography of Virginia and comparing relative location, students will apply geographic skills to identify and understand geographic features and connect geography to historic events in Virginia.
Science: 6.8
Goals and Guiding Principles:
This lesson will analyze the 1755 Fry-Jefferson and the 1770 John Henry maps of Virginia, allowing students to identify two important events during the Revolutionary War: the battles of Great Bridge and Yorktown. Students will develop geographic skills by understanding basic map symbols and locating geographic features. By examining the physical geography of Virginia and comparing relative location, students will apply geographic skills to identify and understand geographic features and connect geography to historic events in Virginia.
Suggested Questions
High resolution maps are available at the Library of Virginia's online catalog:
Compare/Contrast
Project the two maps side-by-side on a large screen. Compare the two maps to respond to the following questions:
Map Analysis
Using a wall map of modern Virginia, locate Norfolk, Yorktown, James River, York River, Elizabeth River, Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
In small groups or centers, compare the Fry-Jefferson Map with the Henry map.
Exit Ticket: 3-2-1
List three things you learned, two things you found interesting, and one question you still have after learning about these turning points in history.
- 1755 Fry & Jefferson Map of the Most Inhabited Part of Virginia
- 1770 John Henry New and Accurate Map of Virginia
Compare/Contrast
Project the two maps side-by-side on a large screen. Compare the two maps to respond to the following questions:
- List and discuss any similarities and differences between the two maps.
- Locate these features on the maps: title, legend, map tools, cartouches, symbols, and lines of measurement. What are some common features of the two maps?
- Speculate on the location of major north-south transportation routes. Why would they be located along coastlines?
- Locate geographic crossroads where lines of transportation may intersect. Could these geographic points be easily controlled? Why or why not?
- How can topography be used to find a beneficial location for a port? For a town? For a trade route?
Map Analysis
Using a wall map of modern Virginia, locate Norfolk, Yorktown, James River, York River, Elizabeth River, Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.
- Using the Fry-Jefferson 1755 Map of Virginia, approximate the locations of these geographic features.
- Using the Henry 1770 Map of Virginia, approximate the locations of these geographic features.
- Approximate the latitude/longitude of Great Bridge and Yorktown.
In small groups or centers, compare the Fry-Jefferson Map with the Henry map.
- Locate the mouths of the York and James rivers. Do these maps show accurate detail?
- Why would it be beneficial to control these two locations? Economically? Militarily
- Locate the city of Norfolk and the Elizabeth River. Locate a point ten miles south of Norfolk along the Elizabeth River. This is the approximate location of a series of bridges crossing the Elizabeth and surrounding smaller tributaries. The largest bridge, called the Great Bridge, was near a village of the same name. Using a modern Virginia map, list three cities near this point. (Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake).
- What other inland areas would be easily accessed if you controlled the port cities in this region?
Exit Ticket: 3-2-1
List three things you learned, two things you found interesting, and one question you still have after learning about these turning points in history.