I.  The Turning Point of the War

  1. The British Plan of 1777
  2. Saratoga
  3. The Turning point of the Revolution
  4. British plan a 3 pronged attack to squash Patriots
  5. General John Burgoyne proposed to lead a British army south from Canada into New York via Lake Champlain where he would be joined by Colonel Barry St. Leger marching east from Lake Ontario along the Mohawk River. These two forces were to meet General William Howe at Albany and sever the colonies by isolating the area of New England
  6. Howe ignored the plan and instead chose to go south and capture Philadelphia. (was treated like royalty at social events)
  7. Won a series of short battles in the Philadelphia area
  8. The Continental Congress fled to York, PA (new capital)
  9. St. Leger is ambushed at Oriskany by Patriot General Nicholas Herkimer and never makes it to Saratoga
  10. Burgoyne marched south but Howe & St Leger never show
  11. American forces fight a brilliant battle and defeat Burgoyne
  12. The British surrender to Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold
  1. The French are at Saratoga and are impressed by the decisive victory and decide to join the US in its war effort.
  2. Franklin was sent to France to negotiate an alliance.

2.  The French and the Patriots agreed to war against England until both sides were ready for peace. This opened a second front for the war in Europe.

  1. Spain then sided with the French creating an indirect American ally.
  1. Valley Forge
  2. Howe's troops defeated Washington at Brandywine and Washington's troops suffered through the brutal winter of 1777-1778 at Valley Forge.
  3. 1/4 of soldiers die during terrible winter
  4. “These are the times that try men’s souls” – Thomas Paine
  5. Frostbite, Starvation, Hypothermia, and Disease are biggest enemy.
  6. American soldiers become more well trained thanks to the aid of foreigners who constantly drilled the soldiers such as Lafayette, Pulaski, Kosciusko, Steuben and others who joined the officer core.
  1. Monmouth Courthouse
  2. General Henry Clinton takes over for General William Howe
  3. Ordered by to head back to NY
  4. Washington tried to stop him at Monmouth
  5. Redcoats were losing but chose a new route to NY -Last major battle in the North
  6. The British encounter a much different colonial army.
  7. Well trained
  8. Disciplined
  9. Battle hardened
  10. Very much equals to the British army.
  11. The British learned they would not be able to win this war easily in the North and decide to change their strategy.