Battle Of Saratoga Essay

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The battle of Saratoga was a significant turning point in the American Revolutionary War. This key conflict was, in fact, two significant battles that shaped America’s struggle for independence. The battles were fought 18 days apart in the same location - 9 miles south of Saratoga, New York. John Burgoyne, the British General, had an initial strategy to divide New England from the southern colonies. This was at first successful when the British took Pennsylvania, but hit a snag when Burgoyne met the Continental Army at Freeman’s Farm on September 19, 1777 - the first of the Saratoga battles. This was a tactical victory for the British, but it came at a price, as their casualties were heavy. It was known that the British won this Battle at Freeman’s Farm, but in actuality, they didn’t have many troops left. On October 7, in the Battle of Bemis Heights, the second Battle of Saratoga, Britain attacked America again as Burgoyne took the offensive. The troops crashed together south of the town of Saratoga, and Burgoyne's army was broken and his command captured. At this battle, the Americans were able to capture a large number of British troops, ultimately resulting in Burgoyne’s surrender on October 17, 1777. The Battle of Saratoga is well known to be “one of the most important victories of the conflict and an early success for the colonists.” The victory gave new life to the American cause at a critical time. Americans had just suffered a major setback at the Battle of Brandywine. They had also received news of the fall of Philadelphia to the British. Significantly with the success at Saratoga, France gained the confidence to enter the war as an American ally. The Battle of Saratoga was a war-altering conflict between the America...

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...of the Americans as well as the new allies of France and other Europeans countries proved invaluable to the outcome of the war. The Americans needed every bit of help in defeating the regular troops of the British army whom were tough and disciplined men. These battles were won, in part, with new outside support, weapons and supplies. The momentum had shifted and the American’s came to Yorktown with renewed vigor and determination to defeat the British. Had the Americans not won the battles of Saratoga, the entire face of the revolution would have changed. A continued string of defeats would have prevented the French from joining and would have further defeated the American’s efforts. The turning point of Saratoga was the motivating force that resulted in Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown and sealed the future for the establishment of The United States of America.

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