Battle of Saratoga and Benedict Arnold

Discover the Battle of Saratoga & Benedict Arnold!

The Battles of Saratoga were a series of battles that culminated in the Battle of Saratoga and the surrender of British General John Burgoyne. This decisive victory by the Americans was a turning point of the Revolutionary War.The LeadersThe main leader for the British was General John Burgoyne. He had the nickname "Gentleman Johnny".The Americans were led by Major General Horatio Gates as well as Generals Benedict Arnold and Benjamin Lincoln. Other key commanders included Colonel Daniel Morgan and General Enoch Poor.Leading up to the BattlesBritish General Burgoyne had come up with a plan to defeat the American colonies. He would split the colonies in two along the Hudson River. With the colonies divided, he was sure they could not stand.Burgoyne was to lead his army south from Lake Champlain to Albany, New York. At the same time General Howe was to advance north along the Hudson River. They would meet at Albany.Burgoyne and his army successfully advanced south. They first recaptured Fort Ticonderoga from the Americans then proceeded to march south. General Howe, however, had other plans. Instead of heading north to Albany, he headed east to take Philadelphia. Burgoyne was on his own.BenningtonAs the British continued south, the Americans harassed them along the way. They cut down trees to block the roads and took shots at the soldiers from the forests. Burgoyne's progress was slow and the British began to run out of food. Burgoyne sent some of his soldiers to Bennington, Vermont to find food and horses. However, Bennington was guarded by American General John Stark. They surrounded the British troops and captured around 500 soldiers. It was a decisive victory for the Americans and weakened the British forces.The Battle of Freeman's FarmThe first battle of Saratoga took place on September 19, 1777 on the farmland of British loyalist John Freeman. Daniel Morgan led 500 sharpshooters to the field where they saw the British advancing. They were able to take out a number of officers before the British began to attack. At the end of the battle the British gained control of the field, but they had suffered 600 casualties, twice as many as the Americans.The Battle of Bemis HeightsAfter the Battle of Freeman's Farm the Americans set up their defenses at Bemis Heights. More militia men arrived and the American forces continued to grow. On October 7, 1777 the British attacked. Their attack failed miserably and they were defeated by the Americans. British casualties mounted to nearly 600 men and General Burgoyne was forced to retreat.The Americans under General Gates pursued the British army. Within days, they had them surrounded. The British surrendered on October 17, 1777.Results of the BattleThe Battles of Saratoga and the surrender of the British army under General Burgoyne was one of the major turning points of the Revolutionary War. The Americans morale was boosted and the country now felt it could win the war. Just as important to the war, the French decided to support the Americans with military aid.Interesting Facts About the Battles of Saratoga- Benedict Arnold did not get along with General Gates. At one point they had a heated argument and Gates relieved Arnold of his command.- George Washington declared a day of Thanksgiving on December 18, 1777 to celebrate the victory over the British at Saratoga.- Despite being relieved of his command, Benedict Arnold entered the battle at Saratoga. He was injured when his horse was shot and fell on his leg.- The American ranks swelled from 9,000 soldiers at the first battle to over 15,000 by the time the British surrendered. The British army, on the other hand, shrunk from 7,200 at the first battle to around 6,600 at the second battle. Who was the commander of the British forces? Horatio Gates John Burgoyne Benjamin Lincoln William Howe What happened to the British troops sent to Bennington, Vermont? They gathered much needed supplies and horses They defeated a small force of militia They were surrounded by the Continental army but managed to fight their way back They were defeated by American forces and surrendered Where did the first Battle of Saratoga take place? Freeman`s Farm Fort Ticonderoga Bemis Heights Bennington What were the results of the Battle of Freeman`s Farm? The Americans surrendered to the much larger British force The small British force was captured The British won the field of battle, but suffered more casualties The British captured the strategic location helping them to win the war What American general had a falling out with his commander Horatio Gates at the Battle of Saratoga? John Stark Benedict Arnold George Washington John Burgoyne What country decided to provide military support to the Americans after they won the Battle of Saratoga? Canada Germany France Austria Watch the video and answer the questions below Who decided who was promoted in the Continental Army or not? George Washington King George III Benedict Arnold Continental Congress Why did Arnold betray the colonists? Because he did not have a nice uniform Because he was not promoted to a position that he felt he deserved Because he was related to King George III Because he was a terrible commander Where was benedict Arnold shot? His head His shoulder His left ar, His left leg Peggy Shippen's dad was... a Loyalist (he supported the British) neutral (he didn't pick sides) a Patriot (he supported the Revolution) Benedict Arnold and this man worked with the British to give away Continental Army secrets. Horatio Gates John Andre Paul Revere George Washington George Washington ordered that if Benedict Arnold was captured, he should... Put in jail for five year. Executed (killed) Sent to Great Britain Forgiven for his crimes Find the best word to complete the passage so that the passage makes sense. Please read your answer before submitting. Britishgeneral John Burgoyne had a plan to attack American colonists at the Hudson River. He wanted to split the colonial forces, weakening their defense. Unfortunately, his plan failed when communications between his other generals failed and the weather made travel for the British even worse. The British army traveled through the thick, wet mud and forests. The journey through the difficult conditions took too long and they ran low on necessary supplies. On the other hand, the American forces used the rough land features to their advantage. Along roads, the Americans used the heavily wooded forests to hide themselves and strike at British soldiers. Colonists even chopped down trees to create blocks in the road, causing the British to be surrounded and easy to strike. American generals, such as Benedict Arnold and Horatio Gates, were able to overpower the British and cause General Burgoyne and his men to surrender. This battle was a major turning point in the war and even convinced the French to join the American’s side. France would later play a major role in helping the Americans to finally defeat the British and win the war. Find the best word to complete the passage so that the passage makes sense. Please read your answer before submitting. The American victory was the news the French had been waiting for! As a result of this victory, France was convinced the Americans could win the war and decided to openly support the colonies with money, troops, and ships.One of the colonial leaders at the Battle of Saratoga was Benedict Arnold. A general for the Americans, Benedict Arnold felt he was not awarded the respect and credit he deserved for his role in this victory. He became a traitor to the Americans, providing the British with information in exchange for money and respect.