Struggling Toward
Saratoga
Battle at Bunker Hill
•Misnamed: Breed’s Hill, North of Boston.
•General Gage decided to attack colonial
militia on a hill near of Bunker Hill.
•Nearly 2,300 British soldiers.
•British attack up hill.
•Colonists held their fire until the last
minute.
•They ran low of ammunition after 3
attacks.
•British are successful.
•Colonists lost 450 men, British over
1,000.
•Deadliest battle of the War.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Americans

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Familiar with land (home
advantage)
Leadership, Washington
Inspired by cause of
independence
A lot of soldiers were untrained
 Shortage of food, and
ammunition
 Poor Navy
 No strong, central government
to enforce wartime policies

British

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Strong well-trained Army and
Navy
Strong government with money
Support of colonial Loyalists
and Native Americans
Not familiar with territory
Weaker military leaders
The War Moves

British wanted to isolate New England


General William Howe, Admiral Richard Howe
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32,000 soldiers, German mercenaries (Hessians)
Washington rallied 23,000 militia

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They seized NYC
Most had little training and poor equipment
Retreated after heavy losses
British pushed Washington and his 8,000 men across
the Delaware River into Pennsylvania
Battle of Trenton

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Washington and 2,400 soldiers marched 9 miles to NJ
Hessians occupied this area
Americans killed 30 and took 918 captive, and 6 cannons
Brought American morale up
Princeton, NJ
 Another battle win 8 days later
Victory at Saratoga

General Burgoyne wanted to lead an army down to NY to meet General
Howe.

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They would join forces to isolate New England from the other colonies
4,000 redcoats, 3,000 Hessians, 1,000 Mohawk Indians
During the trip from Canada to NY, food ran low, slow trip
Burgoyne had met other opposition during his trip

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Ethan Allen in Vermont
He did not realize Howe was still in Philadelphia and was not going to meet
him in time.
Continental Army had appointed General Horatio Gates

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He put together as many men as he could and they surrounded Burgoyne at
Saratoga, NY (1777)
Burgoyne surrendered and British changed their strategy

They kept close to the coasts and close to supplies from their fleet
A Turning Point

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French were secretly sending weapons to Patriots as early as
1776
Saratoga victory put trust in American army
French recognized American independence
1778, they signed an alliance that said France couldn’t make
peace with Britain until they recognized American
independence

1777-1778

Continental Army and Washington were in Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania for the winter.


Valley Forge
Barely any food, clothes, supplies, freezing cold, huts, woods
2,000 out of 10,000 died.
British were in Philadelphia, stayed in loyalists’ homes.