From 1778 to 1781, the battlefront in the Revolution moved south and west. The king, who believed that southern colonists’ sympathies were more loyalist than patriot, insisted on pursuing a southern strategy. At the same time, patriot conflicts with Britain and its Indian allies intensified along the western frontier. The patriots’ eventual victory rested on a combination of superb strategy, their French and Spanish allies, and the continued support of affluent men and women. Still, even after Britain’s surrender in October 1781, the war dragged on while peace terms were negotiated. The celebrations following the signing of a peace treaty were themselves tempered by protests among Continental soldiers demanding back pay and by the realization of the new nation’s looming problems.