Essential Question

Essential Question • What circumstances caused the Battle of Saratoga to become the turning point of the American Revolution?

Saratoga: The Turning Point Chapter 7 Section 1 (Pt III)

Burgoyne’s Plan • The British believed New England was the source of the colonial rebellion • By controlling the Hudson River valley, the British could cut off NE from the other colonies • The British plan was to have three armies meet, attack, and conquer Albany, NY • General John Burgoyne would attack south from Canada • Lt. Colonel Barry St. Leger would attack from the west • General William Howe would attack up the Hudson River from NYC

Patriots Everywhere! • Burgoyne left Canada in June 1777 w/ an army of British, Hessians, & Iroquois • Burgoyne soon began to realize that he was not simply fighting a rebel army, he was fighting an entire population • Rebel sympathizers and colonial militia made the advance painfully slow • Militia cut down trees to block roads • Locals burned crops and drove off cattle

Summary/Quiz Question • What was the purpose of Burgoyne’s plan? • To cut off New England from the other colonies • To force the Middle & Southern colonies to surrender • To create a turning point in the war • To make use of his Hessian mercenaries

The Plan Unravels • Burgoyne pushed on despite major obstacles • On August 4, 1777 he received a message that Gen. Howe would not be coming north • Howe was, instead, going to attempt to capture Philadelphia, leaving a major hole in the plan • As Burgoyne received Howe’s message, St. Leger was also struggling to reach Albany

St. Leger Fails • In the summer of 1777, St. Leger was attempting to defeat a small American force at Ft. Stanwix • The Americans were led by Benedict Arnold, who used a clever tactic to defeat the British • Arnold sent out captured Loyalists & Iroquois to spread the rumor that he had a huge army • St. Leger, who believed the trick, retreated w/o a fight • Burgoyne was now marching on Albany alone

Battle of Saratoga • Burgoyne’s army continued South, but was blocked by an American force led by General Horatio Gates • Gates commanded the bulk of the American force, along with help from Benedict Arnold • Burgoyne’s exhausted army was eventually surrounded & bombarded by Gates’ force near Saratoga, NY • A series of skirmishes ensued, but the Battle of Saratoga ended w/ Burgoyne surrendering his entire army to the Continentals

Summary/Quiz Question • What important event happened because of the Battle of Saratoga? • Benedict Arnold sent rumors of his large army • George Washington crossed the Delaware River • Burgoyne surrendered his entire force to the Continental Army • St. Leger’s troops retreated & left behind large amounts of supplies

The Turning Point • This American victory was the turning point of the war b/c: • The British were unable to cut off NE from the rest of the colonies • It showed Europeans that the Americans could win the war • Some Europeans hostile toward Britain decided to join the American cause

Essential Question