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

“The welfare of America is

closely bound up with the

welfare of mankind.”