Section 6.5: The Turning Point of the War

The British wanted to control New York to isolate New England from the other colonies General Howe planned a three-pronged attack in October 1777 –A three-pronged attack is an attack in three separate places against an enemy (1) General John Burgoyne would march from Canada; (2) Colonel Barry St. Leger would attack from the West; (3) General Howe would reinforce from the South Burgoyne St. Leger Howe General Howe

This plan, however, proved to be a total failure –St. Leger was met with great resistance and could not make much progress –General Howe did not send reinforcements as planned. Instead, he sent his army to attack Philadelphia –At Saratoga, the Americans met General Burgoyne and defeated his army He surrendered to Horatio Gates, the American General News of the Saratoga defeat shocked the British –They wondered what they could do to make peace with the colonials After the American victory at Saratoga, the French agreed to answer Benjamin Franklin’s plea for both military help and money to help the colonies General Burgoyne surrenders to Horatio Gates

Valley Forge Washington tried to keep Howe’s army from taking Philadelphia However, he was badly defeated at Brandywine When Howe’s men moved into Philadelphia, Washington struck again –This time the Americans were stopped at Germantown Washington retreated with his surviving men, setting up winter quarters at Valley Forge –The troops suffered many hardships such as poor shelter, no warm clothes, small amounts of food, and irregular pay George Washington at Valley Forge – Winter 1777

General Howe was called to Great Britain in the spring of 1778 to explain why he had not won the war; he was replaced by Henry Clinton Henry Clinton immediately evacuated the troops from Philadelphia France was sending a fleet of ships to aid the Americans Henry Clinton

American Victories Clinton moved his troops on to New York because he wanted to concentrate on one area Washington and his men left Valley Forge to follow the British army At Monmouth, the Americans almost succeeded in defeating the British –Clinton’s army managed to escape to New York –There, Washington and his men contained the British for most of the rest of the war Washington rallying the troops at Monmouth

The British had persuaded the American Indians to attack American settlements on the western frontier –In response, Virginia Governor Patrick Henry sent George Rogers Clark into the Ohio Valley to stop these raids Clark was an experienced frontiersman who knew the region well George Rodgers Clark captured the British forts at Kaskaskia, Cahokia, and Vincennes –His outstanding leadership and courage helped the Americans control the West Patrick Henry George Rogers Clark

6.5 PowerPoint Questions 1.) General Washington set up winter quarters at ___. 2.) General ___ planned a three-pronged attack. 3.) The Americans defeated the British at ___. 4.) General ___ led the British army at Monmouth. 5.) The Americans captured a British fort at ___. C.T.) Why do you think General Howe’s three- pronged attack failed?