AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Strategy

Britain’s Strategy

Strategy: An overall plan of action. British Goal: To seize the Hudson River

Valley and cut off New England from other states.

British Needed: 3 armies to meet at Albany, New York

Armies Selected: General Burgoyne, Colonel Barry St. Leger, and General Howe

Rendezvous: To meet at a designated location.

General Burgoyne Called “Gentleman

Johnny” June 1777 troops under

Burgoyne left for Albany, New York

July 1777 Captured Fort Ticonderoga Threw a celebration During the festivities, the

American soldiers cut down trees to block his route

American soldiers also burned crops and drove off cattle so the British couldn’t get supplies.

General Howe Supposed to

rendezvous with Burgoyne Went to Pennsylvania

instead September 1777,

Howe defeated General Washington

Howe then occupied Philadelphia

October 1777 Washington attacked again and lost Washington retreated

Colonel Barry St. Leger Colonel St. Leger had

problems reaching Albany to meet Burgoyne

August 1777 American General Benedict Arnold led a small army up the Mohawk River

Benedict Arnold defeated St. Leger

Result: No one was able to rendezvous with General Burgoyne in Albany – mission failed.

Battles of Saratoga Burgoyne’s army was out of

supplies. American General Gates had

learned a new Polish fortification system. Built earthen walls and fought

behind them. Burgoyne could not break

through the fortifications. October 7th 1777, Benedict

Arnold charged the British Burgoyne retreated Benedict Arnold was shot in the

leg

Battles of Saratoga cont’d Burgoyne moved to

Saratoga Continental Army

surrounded the British and fired on them all day and all night

Burgoyne surrendered Consequences of

Saratoga: Benedict Arnold

betrayed the Patriot cause

Today his name still means ‘traitor’