AP US History in 1 Minute Daily: Battle of Saratoga & European Alliances (Day 52/309)

Welcome to today’s explanation of the Battle of Saratoga & European Alliances in my series- APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!

British Planned Invasion, Revolutionarywar.us

In the Fall of 1777, the turning point of the Revolutionary War occurred at the Battle of Saratoga. It included two separate battles and was a crucial victory for the Continental Army.

Surrender of General Burgoyne, Wikimedia Commons

The British ordered three of their armies to Albany, New York. However, only one army arrived and after severe casualties inflicted by the Continental Army, the British surrendered, unable to achieve their goal.

The Signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and of Alliance between France and the United States. Library of Congress

The Battle of Saratoga is especially significant because the victory enabled Benjamin Franklin to negotiate the Treaty of Alliance with France. This in turn convinced other nations, including Spain and the Netherlands, to also support the United States.

Battle of Yorktown with George Washington and French general Comte de Rochambeau, American Battlefield Trust

The alliances of European nations clearly shifted the tide of war. Their provisions of supplies, funds, soldiers, and navies played a significant role in the eventual American victory.

The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War. It directly prompted the formation of alliances with European nations which contributed to the war’s end.

Join me tomorrow as I explain the Winter at Valley Forge, Washington’s Leadership, and American Commitment in our next APUSH in 1 Minute Daily!