1781

1781 was a pivotal year in the American Revolutionary War, marked by decisive military campaigns in the southern colonies, overseas alliance efforts, and the gradual consolidation of the United States under the Articles of Confederation. The year also saw significant organizational steps that helped shape the young republic’s financial and political structure.

In the southern theater, the year featured several important engagements. The Battle of Cowpens occurred on January 17, 1781, in South Carolina, delivering a strong American victory under Daniel Morgan. On March 15, 1781, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina demonstrated the high cost of British victories, ultimately compelling Cornwallis to shift his focus toward the Virginia theater. In Virginia, the Siege of Yorktown unfolded from September 28 to October 19, 1781, culminating in the surrender of Cornwallis and his army on October 19, effectively ending major fighting in North America. A concurrent strategic development was the French naval victory at the Battle of the Chesapeake on September 5, 1781, which blocked British relief to Cornwallis and enabled the Franco-American forces to trap him at Yorktown.

Also in 1781, political and financial foundations were strengthened at home. Maryland ratified the Articles of Confederation on March 1, 1781, making the Confederation government operative among the states. That year, the Bank of North America was established in Philadelphia as the first chartered bank in the United States, marking an early step in the country’s financial infrastructure. The combined military and institutional developments of 1781 contributed to the eventual American victory and the path toward peace.

The broader peace would be formalized in the 1783 Treaty of Paris, ending the War of Independence.