Struggling Toward Saratoga
Chapter 4 Section 2
Do Now: Trivia: What was the first capital of the US.
Obj: Trace Progress of war through the turning point
at Saratoga Examine the colonial economy and civilian life
during the Revolution HW:
Active Read 4.4 and Critical Thinking #3
Valley Forge
Trenton
Saratoga
Inflation
Profiteering
VOCAB
March 1776 – British move troops out of
Boston
Want to move war to Middle States
Attempt to end “rebellion” by isolating New England
British move to attack NYC…
British War Strategy
Defeat in New York
British British Gen. William and
Admiral Richard Howe send 32,000 men into New York Harbor Combine British soldiers
and Hessian (German mercenaries)
Largest British force EVER assembled!
American Washington has 23,000
men to defend NYC Vastly outnumbered
Men untrained with poor equipment
Americans retreat in August of 1776
Washington left with 8,000 who’s enlistment was soon up….he needed a victory!!!
Washington had been pushed back into PA Washington takes calculated risk and attacks
Trenton on Christmas day 2,400 of his men in small row boats cross the
Delaware River into NJ Surprise Hessian troops; who were still drunk
from the night before and capture 918 men and 6 cannons 8 days later Americans defeat 1,200 British @
Princeton Moral victories that helped keep the “cause”
going…
The Battle of Trenton
Isolate New England
Burgoyne’s Plan Against the Americans: Was to lead an army down
a route of lakes from Canada to Albany, where he would meet Howe’s troops as they arrived from NYC
Joint forces would isolate New England from the rest of the colonies
However; Howe would never meet Burgoyne in NYC….
Victory at Saratoga
Under Burgoyne’s Command: 4,000 redcoats, 3,000
mercenaries, 1,000 Mohawk
Bad Luck: Food supplies ran low Clashing with Americans
caused Burgoyne to lose many men
Howe was preoccupied with conquering and occupying Philadelphia that he wasn’t coming to meet him
Surrender at Saratoga: Massed American troops
surrounded Burgoyne Burgoyne surrendered his
army to General Gates Surrender dramatically
changed Britain’s war strategy:
British kept their troops along the coast
Close to the big guns, and supply bases of their fleet
The French were still bitter about the British
defeating them in the French and Indian War Secretly sending weapons to the Patriots since
the previous year Saratoga victory supported their trust in the
American Army French recognized the American independence
and signed an alliance, or treaty of cooperation, in February 1778
Turning Point
Winter at Valley Forge Washington’s struggles:
Awaiting the French aid Washington and his men were struggling to stay alive during the cold winter with primitive conditions
Soldiers suffered from frostbite
Surgeons worked constantly to try to save arms and limbs from amputation
2,000 men died
What country were the Hessian mercenaries
from? Germany
What was the “turning point” in the American Revolution? Battle of Saratoga
What river did Washington cross to attack the British at Trenton? Delaware River
POP QUIZ