SARATOGA: WORLD AT WAR

1777

All the American momentum is stopped at the Battle of Brandywine Creek Washington fell prey to the same tactics

that cost him at New York

The British Commanders

A Tale of Two Captains

General Howe General Burgoyne

Wanted to conquer Philadelphia for his own personal gain

Howe was ordered to meet up with Burgoyne to escort his army to New York City

Wanted to march through the Hudson Valley, cut off New England

Burgoyne’s strategy would help end the war faster

The Hard Way

General Howe defies orders and engages Washington at Brandywine Creek

Sacks Philadelphia two weeks later… ...But has

abandoned Burgoyne in upstate New York

The Continentals

The Plan???

General Gates and General Arnold realize that they’ve got Burgoyne trapped near Saratoga, New York Arnold wants to charge in and attack Gates wants to be more defensive The argument becomes so heated that

Arnold is stripped of command and confined to quarters

Gates, however, is an idiot commander that nearly got the army wiped out

Arnold is the one who saves the day

The Biggest Blunder of the War

Burgoyne is waiting for Howe’s reinforcements to arrive…

…But Howe is partying in Philadelphia and not coming Burgoyne is left to face an ever growing

army alone

Foreign Aid

Benjamin Franklin is working as America’s ambassador to France

Trying to convince France to enter the war in support of the Americans France wants proof the

Americans can win the war

The Battle of Saratoga

October 7, 1777: The Continentals defeat the British at Saratoga Benedict Arnold, the hero of the action,

is wounded…but survives Horatio Gates, however, takes all the

credit for the victory Arnold fumes at being slighted yet

again…first Ethan Allan at Ticonderoga, then Gates at Saratoga???

World at War

Burgoyne formally surrenders on October 17, 1777 Britain’s best opportunity to win the war

has slipped away Howe gets blamed for the loss

The victory at Saratoga causes France and Spain to enter the war on the side of the United States