When did the American Revolutionary War end?
It depends on how technical you want to be, and – like they say about real estate – it might depend on location, location, location.
Dates of various events
In school we learned that it ended on October 19, 1781 with British General Charles Cornwallis’ surrender to General George Washington at Yorktown, Virginia.
We also learned that the Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783.
The treaty had to be ratified by Congress. That happened on January 14, 1784.
I never gave any thought about the logistics of the departure of British troops. Do you know when that happened?
November 25, 1783. It was 241 years ago today that the last British troops left the United States of America via New York City.
In school we tended to study the battles of the American Revolution but not the day in and day out of the war. New York City was occupied by British troops from September 1776 until November 25, 1783. That’s more than seven years! With the outcome of the war in question until 1781, those years of British occupation must have been nerve wracking for residents.
After the last of the British troops left, George Washington received a hero’s welcome in New York City. Four months later, the city was declared the capital of the new nation. It remained the capital until Philadelphia was chosen in 1790.
How would you answer?
If asked when the American Revolutionary War ended, which date would you think of?
October 19, 1781 – Cornwallis’ surrender
September 3, 1783 – Signing of the Treaty of Paris
November 25, 1783 – Departure of last British troops from the US
January 14, 1784 – Ratification of the Treaty of Paris by the US Congress
Location, location, location
I imagine most citizens considered the war over when Cornwallis surrendered, but the residents of New York City probably did not consider it over until the last of the British troops left.
This isn’t a quiz. It’s just something to think about.
Hurricane Helene Update on Western North Carolina
Just to give you an idea about the recovery situation 60 days after the storm hit western NC…
Roads: Of the 1,329 road closures due to Hurricane Helene, 1,076 are fully open as of Saturday. Interstate 40 is still closed near the TN line. It is hoped that two lanes – a lane for each direction – can be opened by January 1. It is my understanding that this will not be open for commercial traffic. Prior to Hurricane Helene, this nine-mile stretch of I-40 carried more than 7,600, trucks per day and more than 26,000 total vehicles per day.
Water system in Asheville: The City of Asheville Water Resources serves about 160,000 people in Buncombe and Henderson counties. The Boil Water Notice was lifted last Monday! That is huge!
Blue Ridge Parkway: There is still no estimated date for all the parkway in NC to be reopened. It’s winter now and the first measurable snow of the season fell on Friday. For mile marker-to-mile marker closures, visit https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/roadclosures.htm. For photographs of the damage and clean up along the parkway, visit https://www.nps.gov/blri/planyourvisit/hurricane-helene.htm.
Public School Systems: All the affected counties continue to struggle with bus routes due to so many road closures.
Baxter International in Marion: I mentioned weeks ago that this facility that makes 60% of the IVs used in the US was completely shut down by the flooding. They’re finally back in business! The first shipment of product left the business last Monday, and they hope to be back to full operation by the end of the year.
Until my next blog post
I hope you have at least one good book to read this week – and the time to read it.
Take time for friends and family. Brace yourself for Thanksgiving, if members of your family come from different political persuasions. Wouldn’t it be nice if politics could be put aside for just one day?
Remember the people of Ukraine; western NC; and Valencia, Spain.
Janet
Janet's Writing Blog 
Another brilliant and very informative post on North American history with facts that I knew nothing about. History is fascinating and you make it very easy to read and to enjoy. I am glad to read that the H. Helene recovery effort is moving along and things are getting a little better for those in the affected area. The same thing here in our Comunitat Valenciana as we too are slowly, but surely, recovering from the effects of the killer storm of the 29th of October. Hope you are well and good Janet. I love your Instagram and your newsletters and I hope good weather is blessing your neck of the woods. Here winter seems to be slowly gaining on autumn but the days are still nice. All the best!
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Excellent read. Enjoying this on my flight from NYC. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
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Thank you, Patti. Sometimes it’s a challenge to find a topic to blog about every week! Safe travels and Happy Thanksgiving!
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Thank you for all the compliments, Francis! I seem to still be searching for my “voice,” but your words reinforce for me that perhaps I’m on the right track with my blog. Instagram has been a bit of a learning curve for me. You know technology is not in my comfort zone. With some planning ahead, though, I’m feeling more at ease with it. Still at a loss on how to grow my readership on all platforms. I’m trying to keep in mind, “Quality over Quantity” when it comes to likes and followers. I do have the best followers, though few in number! LOL! Thank you for the positive word about my new weekly e-newsletters. Another challenge, but this seems to be easier for me to handle than a long newsletter every other month. I’m glad to hear that the disaster recovery is coming along in the Valencia area, too. With winter upon us, it would be an awful time to be homeless. Sunny, breezy, but predicted high of 70 here this afternoon after a morning close to freezing. Next Monday winter temperatures are predicted to hit us hard, so we must enjoy every degree this afternoon gives us. Stay warm and happy over there!
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Thank you so much Janet. You too, stay warm and in the sunshine. Many blessings.
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I was reading somewhere else this week that after the end of WW2, it took up to a decade for all the prisoners of war around Europe to be returned to their home countries. So I’m sure they and their families didn’t think the war ended in 1945. We didn’t really get taught much about the American War of Independence (as we still tend to call it), just that it happened. For many years, I assumed the war ended on July 4th, 1776. It was only in fairly recent years that I realised that was the beginning rather than the end of the war.
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It’s horrifying that it took up to a decade for all of the WWII POWs to get back to their homes! I had no idea! I just did a Google search to see if I could find out when the last American POWs got home, but I haven’t found a date yet. You’ve given me a new project! I didn’t know y’all call our Revolutionary War “the American War of Independence.” I learn something every day. Thanks for sharing that. To the people here and in Great Britain, it must have seemed like our Revolutionary War (and both World Wars) were going to drag on forever.
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I’ve always found the end of the Revolutionary War/birth of the United States confusing. I’m very glad to hear that Baxter International is back up and running! Hospitals must be vey relieved.
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Absolutely — on both of your comments.
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Wonderful ♥️
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