Why Was New York State Important

From the moment of its first colonization by Peter Stuyvesant as New Netherlands, New York State showed military promise to both the British and the French. Colonial New York extended from the Atlantic at New York Harbor all the way north, to the great lakes on the border of the French colonies of Quebec and Ontario, which made up the combined colony of Canada. Its great size places it perfectly in between the Southern States and New England. Therefore, whoever controlled New York controlled the fate of both regions of the original 13 states. New York is utilized for its geographical importance in two of the most prominent wars of early American history: The French and Indian War and The American Revolution. The significance of New York State was that it was geographically the focal point of both the

French and Indian War as well as the Revolution, due to the Battles of Fort Ticonderoga, Saratoga, Brooklyn, and the British occupation of New York City.
In the 1740s, French Canadians feared the hindering of their fur trade through Indian defections to the British colonies. The Canadians responded to this with “diplomatic” tour in 1749 that threatened English trade and claimed French sovereignty. Canadians then arrested traders and helped the destruction of the English trading base at Pickawillany in 1752. The French governor of Canada then sent an army to found forts between Lake Erie and the Allegheny River in order to force French occupation and trade in New York, which included four forts, one of which was Fort Ticonderoga. Actions like this threatened the English colonies and led to the 1754 declaration of war between Great Britain, France, and allied Native American tribes. New York, being at the border of French Canada and British America, was put in prime danger of a French invasion and occupation.
The British started their military campaign in 1758 with Prime Minister William Pitt, who was determined to provide more troops, money, and military commanders, as the leader of the North American theater of the war known to the British as the Seven Years War. Pitt now now focused on the conquest of Canada ,targeting four French forts. Of these forts, Fort Carillon, more commonly known as Fort Ticonderoga, was the most important one. Fort Ticonderoga, located on Lake Champlain and near Lake George, provided defense against northern access to the Hudson River, and ultimately New York Harbor. Major General James Abercromby commanded the assault on Fort Ticonderoga in July of 1758. Fort Ticonderoga was defended by the Marquis de Montcalm and his thirty-five hundred French and Native American troops while Abercrombie led fifteen thousand British troops (Gilchrist). They were initially unable to overcome a French abattis, which is a field fortification used as an obstacle made of tree branches laid in a row with the sharpened tops pointed towards the enemy. This along with trenches, greatly hindered the British and after six failed attempts, they retreated. This was not the last of the British as they tried again in 1759 under the command of Sir Jeffery Amherst. This attack, after learning from the previous one, was successful as French forces, without knowledge of the attack, migrated to defend Quebec against the rest of the British campaign. By the time the French realized what was going on, it was too late and the British had successfully taken control of Fort Ticonderoga.
The Treaty of Paris was signed four years later on February 10, 1763 when the French accepted the British victory over New France and ceded to Britain all French rights to lands east of the Mississippi River. The French were determined to retain the economic center of their Atlantic empire, which included sugar plantations, slave stations, and the Newfoundland Fish Market. Because of the British victory at Fort Ticonderoga, the French’s best bet at an offensive victory (the capturing of New York Harbor) was cut off and forced the French to be on the defensive for the remainder of the war until their eventual surrender after the invasion of Canada by the British. Furthermore, Fort Ticonderoga’s location in New York directly stopped France’s French and Indian War offensive and later resulted in Great Britain’s annexation of all of France’s colonial territory within North America east of the Mississippi.
Fort Ticonderoga proved to be militarily significant once again in the American Revolution. Beginning in May of 1775, the Continental Army planned for the invasion of Quebec through New York. Fort Ticonderoga was needed as a staging area for the invasion of Quebec, similar to the French and Indian War, due to its location on the border and connection to multiple colonies where militia could be drafted from. Soldiers and supplies for the invasion consolidated during the summer under General Montgomery. Colonel Ethan Allen, of the Green Mountain Boys, captured Fort Ticonderoga on May 10, 1775 (Allen) and was “the colonists' first complete victory in the Revolutionary War”(Allen). The victory at Ticonderoga, being less than a month after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, was the colonists’ first victory over the British. This was significant as it provided a moral and confidence boost for the revolution. Additionally, this victory showed the British that the colonists were able to fight and even win against them in a European style fort. Also, on August 28, 1775, Montgomery commenced the invasion leading 1,200 troops in Quebec. Fort Ticonderoga continued to serve as a staging ground for the invasion until the final siege of Quebec City that ultimately killed General Montgomery. Furthermore, Fort Ticonderoga contributed the New York’s military significance due to serving as a staging ground for invading Canada, protecting access to the Hudson from the North (in both the French and Indian War and the American Revolution), being home to one of the first battles of the revolution, being the first American victory., all thanks to its geographical location in New York State.
As the war progressed, it seemed to many that the British had a near guaranteed victory over the Americans. But, the tides soon turned when American Generals Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold met British General Burgoyne at Saratoga, NY. The British planned to take control of all of New York hence cutting off New England from the South and making it a clear British victory. But, the Americans were aware of the importance of New York and sent Arnold to stop the British. The British planned that soldiers from Canada and New York City would march towards the center of the state and converge on Albany, on the Hudson River. If successful, all communication and supply between the Northern colonies of New England and those of the Middle and South would be disrupted and cut off. A final knockout blow would then be concentrated on New England, the main source of the rebellion, therefore forcing the South to surrender.
While Arnold was accumulating new recruits partially trained by regional militia and mostly accustomed to firearms, Burgoyne’s march southward was held up at the American Fort Edward.

Burgoyne suffered a considerable and unrecoverable loss that resulted in the loss communication with Howe, who he was to meet with from the south. He decided to continue his march nevertheless and had a brief encounter with the Americans, forcing them to set up camp despite being victorious. Both sides suffered considerable losses as the Americans grew newfound confidence in their skills against the British Army. The Americans had fallen back and were now strongly posted near Stillwater, halfway between Saratoga and Albany, but were determined not to let up. A month later, Arnold regrouped with Gates and led a heroic charge against the British, where Arnold was shot in the leg (McDowell). Because of the charge, the Indians and Canadians started to desert Burgoyne as Gates and Arnold were being continually reinforced by militia. More importantly, the Americans then had greater numbers than the British allowing them to win the most important battle of the Revolutionary

War.
The Battle of Saratoga became the turning point in the war as the United States gained new allies in Europe. When news of Burgoyne's surrender reached France, King Louis XVI began negotiations with the Americans, particularly Ben Franklin, that resulted in a military alliance between the two nations bringing France into the war making it on a greater stage. Britain was then forced to defend their colonial holdings in the West Indies and Europe against the French, taking up valuable resources and soldiers that could be used to fight the Americans. France was eager to help the Americans, especially since they lost to the British in the Seven Years War. Before the Battle of Saratoga, France didn't fully help the Americans and were skeptical of their ability to win the war. However, after they won the Battles of Saratoga, France realized that the Americans had a chance and began full aid for the Americans sending soldiers, monetary loans, ships, weapons, and supplies. Furthermore, the Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the war since it bought France, Holland Spain, Sweden, Denmark, and Russia into the war creating an alliance that would eventually end the war (Creasy). The geographical location of Saratoga made it the last line of defense against the conquest of New York which, because of its central location, would isolate the other states. This crucial battle not only saved New York, but also inspired the intervention of multiple European nations including the powerhouse France. Because this alliance made American independence and British defeat possible, the battle that took place in Saratoga, NY was the most important battle of the entire revolution.