On July 11, 1782, British forces evacuated Savannah, Georgia, ending nearly four years of occupation during the American Revolutionary War. Savannah had been under British control since 1778 and served as a key southern stronghold. The evacuation came as British power weakened following the defeat at Yorktown and ongoing peace negotiations. American and French forces had previously attempted to retake the city in 1779 but failed. The British withdrawal marked a major step toward the end of the war and the restoration of American control in the South.