T1+-+6.3A

T1 - 6.3A: Ryan DeVine, The Turning Point in the Revolutionary War

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From September to October of 1777 the battles of Saratoga occurred. The Major General for the British, John Burgoyne, led his 5,000 troops down the Hudson River from Canada. He planned to split the colonies in half at New York. The British were surrounded at Saratoga. Colonial General Horatio Gates was the one who lead the troops to surround the British. This lead to the retreat of the British, and was the turning point in the war. The “rag tag” troops finally defeated the best army in the world. This win for the Americans truly shaped the war for them.======

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In December, General John Burgoyne consulted with the British ministry a plan for the campaign of 1777. A large army under his command was to come down from Canada and proceed to Albany, New York. While at the same time another British force under Sir Henry Clinton would advance up the Hudson and colonists revolting against British rule. ======

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As General John Burgoyne proceeded with his plans he easily forced the evacuation of forts Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Anne. He advanced on by land, which took three weeks having to cut a road through the dense forest. This gave American forces time to reinforce and retrain there soldiers. On September 19th, a battle between Burgoyne’s right wing and American forces under General Gates and Arnold broke out at freeman’s farm. Burgoyne was eventually pushed back and surrounded after days of fighting. Burgoyne decided to wait for Clinton for reinforcement. Little did he know that he would never come. Low on supplies and winter coming Burgoyne was forced to fight one last time. He was not successful and was forced to surrender his army to General Horatio Gates on October 17th 1777. ======

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The Battle of Saratoga guaranteed America’s success during the Revolutionary War. It ended the British threat to New England. It also boosted the spirits of the Americans when Washington’s army was suffering defeat. The French then allied with the Americans. The surplus of supplies from the French gave America the edge to win the war. ======