1777-1778
A Time of Hope
Hessians were mercenaries
Jockey Hollow at Morristown
New Jersey
British
plan for victory, 1777
General John Burgoyne came up
with a three part plan to
separate New York and New
England from the rest of the
colonies
Why did Burgoyne lose at Saratoga?
1. General
Barry St. Leger
loses at Oriskany
St. Leger was trying to capture Ft.
Stanwix.
American troops led by General
Herkimer (right) were sent in
relief of the fort
Six miles from the fort at
Oriskany the Americans rallied
and defeated the British
St. Leger and the British were
forced to retreat to Canada
2. General Howe wanted to capture
Philadelphia before helping Burgoyne
3. General Burgoyne;
his own worst enemy
Insisted on marching around
Lake George using up time and
man power
Carried a 30 mile supply train
with 1/3 being his own personal
items
Did not communicate with St.
Leger
Ignored Howe’s plans to attack
Philadelphia before linking up
with his army
The death of Jane McCrea by
Indian allies triggered many New
Yorkers to rally to the Patriot
cause
Why was the victory at Saratoga
significant?
France signed a treaty of alliance with
the United States, February 6, 1778
Howe wins at Brandywine and
Germantown capturing Philadelphia
How did the British victories at
Brandywine and Germantown lead to
American good fortune?
1. Washington winters at Valley Forge
2. The winter was very harsh
3. Major General
Friedrich
Wilhelm Augustus
Baron von Steuben
Trained Continental Army how to
be better soldiers
He gave the army discipline and
esprit de corps they were lacking
4. Washington built a bond with his
men at Valley Forge
Why was the Battle of Monmouth significant
even though it ended in a draw?
Washington rallies troops at
Battle of Monmouth
Aftermath of the
Battle of
Monmouth
The British were forced to go
back to New York City
Washington bottled the
British army up inside the city
The British were compelled
to move the fight to the
southern states
Lord Cornwallis took over the
fight in the south
Molly Pitcher
Mary Ludwig Hays McCauley