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Imagine fighting a war where most people do not think you can win. That was the situation for the American colonists during the Revolutionary War. They were fighting the most powerful army and navy in the world. For two years, the war did not go well for the Americans. However, one major battle in the fall of 1777 changed everything. The Battle of Saratoga is considered the turning point of the American Revolution because it proved the Americans could defeat the British, convinced France to become an American ally, and boosted the morale of the Continental Army.

The Battle of Saratoga was not one single fight, but two important battles fought eighteen days apart. On September 19, 1777, at Freeman’s Farm, American General Benedict Arnold (who was still a hero at this time) led attacks against Burgoyne’s forces. The British held the field, but they lost many men. Then, on October 7, 1777, at Bemis Heights, the Americans attacked again. This time, they surrounded the British. Burgoyne’s army was trapped, outnumbered, and running out of food. On October 17, 1777, General Burgoyne surrendered his entire army of over 5,000 soldiers to American General Horatio Gates. 8th grade social studies weebly

The Turning Point: How the Battle of Saratoga Changed the American Revolution Imagine fighting a war where most people do

Most importantly, the victory convinced France to join the war on the American side. France had been secretly sending supplies to the Americans, but they did not want to join a losing cause. After Saratoga, King Louis XVI of France agreed to a formal alliance. The French sent money, thousands of soldiers, and their powerful navy. The French navy would later trap the British army at Yorktown, leading to the final American victory in 1781. For two years, the war did not go well for the Americans

The victory at Saratoga changed the war in three major ways. First, it proved that the American army could defeat a major British army in a formal battle, not just by hiding and ambushing. Second, it destroyed the British plan to split the colonies in half. After Saratoga, the British changed their strategy and moved the war to the southern colonies.

Before 1777, the British had won many battles, capturing New York City and Philadelphia. The American army, led by General George Washington, was low on supplies, ammunition, and soldiers. Many soldiers were deserting, or running away, because they were cold and hungry. The British had a plan to cut off New England from the other colonies by taking control of the Hudson River Valley. British General John Burgoyne planned to march his army south from Canada and meet other British troops near Albany, New York.

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