The Battle of Saratoga
The turning point in the Revolutionary War
Embarrassing the British
• The defeats at Trenton and Princeton embarrassed the British.
– Spring 1777 – The British wanted to strike back
• The British attack the Patriots at Fort Ticonderoga, Lake Ontario, and New York City
– The three armies would come together at Albany, New York
Delays to Albany
• The British successfully recapture Fort Ticonderoga
– Burgoyne was slow in heading towards Albany
– Colonists had chopped down large trees across his path to slow his progress
– Burgoyne was also greedy
• He was travelling with 30 wagons of luxury goods
Delays to Albany
• Attacking Philadelphia
– General Howe decided to attack Philadelphia first, before heading towards Albany
– General Howe captures Philadelphia after winning at Brandywine and Paoli
– The Continental Congress flees
Delays to Albany
• Burgoyne runs low on food and supplies
– Sends 800 troops and Native Americans to Capture Bennington, Vermont
• The Greene Mountain Boys attack the British at Bennington
– Burgoyne flees to Saratoga, New York
Waiting in Saratoga
• Burgoyne was in Saratoga waiting for reinforcements
– They never came
• Howe was still in Philadelphia
• St. Leger had been stopped by the Americans at Fort Stanwix
– Burgoyne was on his own
The Battle of Saratoga
• Burgoyne’s troops were badly outnumbered by the Patriots – 3/1
– General Horatio Gates –
attacked from the South
– Benedict Arnold – attacked from the North
• The British troops were surrounded
• October 17, 1777
– Patriots capture Burgoyne’s entire army
• 5,700 British Soldiers
• All their Weapons
Battle of Saratoga ‐ Map
The Turning Point in the Revolution
• Great Victory for the Patriots
– Capture John Burgoyne
– General Howe Resigns
– British appoint a new General
• General Henry Clinton
• Morale Booster for the Patriots
– Led to increased foreign support for the Patriots
• “This event will make one of the most brilliant pages of American History.”
– Patriot James Thacher
Gaining Foreign Allies
• European nations realized that the United States might actually win its war against Great Britain.
– Some European nations gave Americans money and supplies but would not committed to an alliance.
– Benjamin Franklin seeks to gain support of the French and Spanish in the Americans’ fight for independence.
France joins the War
• France sees that the Americans will probably win
– February 1778 – France and the U.S. form an alliance
– France declares war on Great Britain
– France sends money, equipment, and troops to the American Patriots
Spain joins the War
• Spain joins the war because of their hatred toward Great Britain
– 1779 – Spain Declares war on Great Britain
– Bernardo de Gálvez’s ‐
raised army against the British • Captured British troops and Forts in the South
Individuals Support Patriot’s Cause
• Marquis de Lafayette
Wealthy Frenchman
Summer 1777
Spoke little English
Lacked combat experience
Gave $200,000 to the Patriots
– Becomes a trusted aid to Washington
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• “The welfare of America is closely bound up with the welfare of mankind.”
The Americans were on their way to Independence