The "Turning Point" of the Revolutionary War.

1. The Turning Point
Objective:
We will continue to follow the events of
the Revolutionary War
Lesson #54
Ustaadhah Mariam Annor

2. • How difficult would it be to travel on foot
carrying all of what you have?
• There are no places to just stop and get a
bit to eat.
• Describe your emotion with one word.

3. • General John Burgoyne is known for the British failure
at the battle of Saratoga. He took army of over 7,000
British soldiers down the Hudson River.
• He did not have enough reinforcement and supplies
led to his defeat and surrender.
• The defeat of Saratoga was a major turning point in
the war.
• It gave the Americans confidence as France joined the
patriots' side.

4. • The battle was
fought from
Montreal, Canada
to Saratoga.

6. We will read from our digital text.

7. • The British General John Burgoyne sailed south on Lake
Champlain with an army of over 7,000 soldiers.
• He was going to capture Albany, New York. He would then
continue south on the Hudson River. Their goal was to control
Lake Champlain and the Hudson River.
• Burgoyne thought this would end the war. The Americans
had designed a fort near the town of Saratoga.
• General Benedict Arnold was there to stop the British. This
battle was called the Battle of Saratoga.

8. • Burgoyne’s soldiers were running out of food and suffered
heavy losses.
• The American army was growing in size. By October 1777,
Burgoyne surrendered.
• This battle is often called the turning point of the war because
it showed that the Continental Army was strong enough to
take the British.
• After the success of Saratoga, France agreed to join the fight.
Up until then the French did not think the American army was
strong enough to succeed.

9. • This was the turning point for Benedict Arnold too. He was wounded in the
battle. In 1780, he shocked the country by joining the British army for money.
Benedict Arnold is one of the most famous traitors in American history.
• African Americans served in the Continental Army too. They were offered
their freedom if they would fight for the British Army.
• Thousands of African Americans gained their freedom by serving the British.
Some Joined the Loyalists and fled to Canada. They were also fighting for the
Patriots.
• They believed that a war for freedom should mean freedom for all Americans
including those who were held in slavery. One African American shot a British
officer at Bunker Hill. His name was Peter Salem.

10. • There were also African Americans spies.
One such was James Armistead.
• He got behind the lines of the enemy and
gained the trust of the British. The Virginia
Assembly released Armistead from slavery
and praised his service.

11. • Many enslaved men were freed from
slavery in exchange for service in the
Continental Army.
• After helping their country gain its
freedom, some of these African American
Patriots led the struggle to end slavery in
the United States.

12. Review Questions
• What was the Turning
Point?

13. Review Questions
• What happened and where?