American Revolution Review pt. 4

The British were scattered as they tried to meet up and take Albany, New York.

American troops led by Horatio Gates blocked and surrounded the army of one of the British commanders- Gen. Burgoyne.

Desperate, Burgoyne attacked the surrounding Americans on October 7, 1777

○In the end, Burgoyne surrendered and the British plan to take Albany, New York failed.

○This victory changed the course of the war and was a huge victory for the Americans

The company of American soldiers under the command of George Washington fought a string of losing battles, but with some successes along the way.

As winter approached, Washington marched his men somewhere to establish a base at Valley Forge. 

While at Valley Forge, Washington’s men were starving, cold, sick

A great help arrived, though, when a Prussian volunteer by the name of Baron Von Steuben arrived. 

Washington urged Steuben to train the American soldiers. Slowly, the American soldiers grew more professionally trained and disciplined. The confidence of the soldiers that remained once their term of enlistment was up grew. 

Meanwhile, while Washington was freezing at Valley Forge, Benjamin Franklin was securing a French alliance. The tides of war were about to shift in the Americans’ favor. 

As a result of the Battle of Saratoga the U.S. got help

FRANCE –began to give aid to the Americans

Spain, Germany & Poland began to send officers to help Washington and the Americans.

Marquis de Lafayette

•19-yr-old French nobleman

•volunteered to serve in Washington’s army

With the additional support from so many new countries, the Americans could finally put up a real fight against the British.