Victory+in+a+Year+of+Defeat--The+French+Alliance

Da Bin Lee and Soo

= Victory in a Year of Defeat =

Britain Begins to Go DOWN

 * === Lord George's mistake (1777) ===
 * England's chief military strategist, Lord George Germain
 * obsolete perception of the war (European conventional style)
 * considered the size of the field army as the most important factor
 * believed in complete victory over Washington's Continental troops
 * Unexpected outcomes
 * the Continental forces = extremely elusive
 * One British army tried to corner Washington in Pennsylvania.
 * Another army surrendered in the forests of upstate New York.

- At the battle of Bennington (Aug. 16), with the help of German mercenaries (paid soldiers), the American General John Stark defeated Burgoyne's forces.
 * **Burgoyne's Blunder (1777)**
 * General John Burgoyne ("Gentleman Johnny")
 * adopted an intricate scheme for capturing the vital Hudson River Valley in the summer of 1777.
 * If successful...
 * 1) the British would sever New England from the rest of the states
 * 2) paraylze the Amerian cause
 * Burgoyne planned to push down the Lake Champlain route from Canada.
 * expected General Howe's troops' help in New York, if needed
 * British planners failed to recognize General Benedict Arnold
 * General Benedict (after his repulse at Quebec in 1775) had retreated slowly along the St. Lawrence River back to the Lake Champlain region, by heroic efforts keeping an army in the field.
 * The British had pursued Benedict's relatively weak force to Lake Chmplain in 1776, yet the British could not move farther south
 * Why?
 * 1) did not have the full control over the lake
 * 2) absence of roads = hard and slow mobility
 * 3) lack of supplies
 * Winter was descending -> the British were forced to retire to Canada -> temporary stop of the march
 * General Burgoyne's march on Albany

[[image:wikspaces_sratoga.jpg align="center"]]
The Americans dressed as best they could. Increasingly as the war progressed regular infantry regiments of the Continental Army wore blue uniform coats but the militia continued in rough clothing. Both sides were armed with muskets and guns. Many of the Pennsylvania and Virginia troops and militia, particularly Morgan’s men, carried long, small calibre, rifled weapons. || Positioning of the armies QUOTE: "...one of the Greatest battles that Ever was fought in America..." -Statesman, Henry Dearborn
 * **Battle of Saratoga**
 * **Place**: || Saratoga on the Hudson River in New York State. ||
 * **Combatants:** || British and German troops against the Americans. ||
 * **Generals:** || Major General John Burgoyne commanded the British and German force. Major General Horatio Gates and Brigadier Benedict Arnold commanded the American army. ||
 * **Size of the armies** || The British force comprised some 5,000 British, Brunswickers, Canadians and Indians. By the time of the surrender the American force was around 12,000 to 14,000 militia and troops. ||
 * **Uniforms, arms and equipment**: || The British wore red coats and headgear of bearskin caps, leather caps or tricorne hats depending on whether the troops were grenadiers, light company or battalion company men. The German infantry wore blue coats and retained the Prussian style grenadier mitre with brass front plate.
 * **Winner** || The Americans forced the surrender of Burgoyne’s force. ||
 * Helpful article: [|http://battle1777.saratoga.org/]

Americans With Growing Advantages: The French Alliance
 * The French monarchy favored the republican.
 * WHYThe French wanted to embarrass the English (rival). - wanted some form of revenge (the French was defeated by the British army during the French and Indian War).
 * The French still hesitated to participate.
 * Great Britain was too strong, and American colonists were not fully experienced.

HOWEVER... > *Turning point that solidified the French to join the American side = the Battle of Saratoga > - This particular American victory convinced the French. >> 1) formally recognize the independence of the United States 1) United States 2) France 3) Spain 4) Holland || 30,000 hired Hessians || Armed Neutrality 1) Russia 2) Denmark-Norway 3) Sweden 4) Holy Roman Empire 5) Prussia 6) Portugal || Some additional agreements 1) The Americans pledged not to sign a separate peace with Britain without first informing their new ally, France. 2) France made no claim to Canada. 3) France asked for the right to take possession of certain British islands in the Carribean.
 * The American victory of the Battle of Saratoga proved American's potential of winning its Revolutionary War.
 * Benjamin Franklin's effective diplomacy
 * meetings with French officials in Paris
 * hinted that the Americans might accept a British peace initiative
 * after negotiations, the French agreed to...
 * 2) Treaty of Amity and Commerce - commercial relations between France and US
 * 3) Treaty of Alliance - military help and support
 * **Britain and Allies** || **Enemy or Unfriendly Powers** ||
 * Great Britain || Belligerents:
 * Some Loyalists and Indians

American Revolutionary War Time Line: http://www.ushistory.org/March/timeline.htm Helful article: =French Alliance, French Assistance, and European diplomacy during the American Revolution, 1778-1782=
 * http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ho/time/ar/14312.htm**

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