History: Beyond the Textbook

2.11: The Officer and the Commoner: Lord Cornwallis and Joseph Plumb Martin at the Battle of Yorktown


Listen Later

Send us a text

It was the last significant battle of the American Revolution, although this couldn’t have been predicted at the time.  The Americans, British, and the French felt that 1781 was a "now or never" year for the Revolution, and that something big had to happen.  Many forces coalesced to turn the Battle of Yorktown into the decisive battle of the Revolutionary War, and  we’ll examine two individuals serving on opposing sides, and from very different backgrounds.  In this episode of History: Beyond the Textbook,  we’ll conclude the fighting of the American Revolution at Yorktown by spotlighting Lord Charles Cornwallis and Joseph Plumb Martin: the Officer and the Commoner at the Battle of Yorktown.

Key People
Lord Charles Cornwallis
Joseph Plumb Martin
General Henry Clinton
Alexander Hamilton

Key Events
Battle of Yorktown
Battle of New York
Battle of Monmouth

We're back for Season Four of History: Beyond the Textbook! This season will focus on the stories of individuals who shaped "America's Federalist Era" in the years roughly 1789-1800. The first six episodes will release every Tuesday from October 28-December 2, while the second six episodes will be released every Tuesday from February 17-March 24. Catch up on Season One, "America's Colonial Era," Season Two, "America's Revolution," and Season Three, "America's Crucial Years," wherever you listen to your podcasts!

Feel free to contact us with feedback or questions by clicking the "Send Us a Text" link or email us at: [email protected]

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

History: Beyond the TextbookBy Alex Mattke