The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 1, Issue 1, April 2015 | Page 9

Saratoga: The Turning Point of the American Revolution
Jim Dick
The American Revolution was more than just a civil war between the
rebels in Great Britain’s North American colonies along the Atlantic seaboard and
Great Britain. The conflict eventually escalated into a vast worldwide war
between Great Britain and her traditional adversaries, France, Spain, and the
Netherlands who allied with the American rebels. While no country aided the
American rebel colonists at first, their victory in the Saratoga campaign resulted
in a shift to recognition by Britain’s continental foes who saw an opportunity to
capture territory of their own and humble the arrogance of Great Britain. The loss
of a British army in the Saratoga campaign was the decisive factor which caused
France to enter the American Revolution, thus transforming the conflict from a
civil war to an international war, which was the only way the colonies were able
to gain their independence.
As armed rebellion began between Great Britain and the American rebels
in 1775, it was apparent that the British vastly outgunned the Americans.
Fortunately, the French did surreptitiously send arms to the Americans early in
1777, replacing much of the losses incurred during the 1776 campaign season. 1
Still, the Americans were chronically short of artillery power as they would be
throughout the war. The campaign season of 1776 had resulted in the capture of
New York City and the entire colony of New Jersey. The British had driven
General George Washington, commander of the Continental Army, completely
across the Delaware River by the end of 1776. Only a daring raid launched on
Christmas evening that resulted in the capture of the British garrisons of Princeton
and Trenton in late December salvaged any hope of victory for the Americans.
As the campaign season of 1777 dawned, General Washington had two
problems. He knew the British were sending a force from Canada under General
John Burgoyne whose mission was to drive south, take Fort Ticonderoga, and
meet General William Howe’s force in Albany. Washington’s army could not
move north unless Howe’s army moved from New York City; otherwise,
Pennsylvania would be vulnerable to an invading British force under Howe. The
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