Victory and Independence December 1777-1779 pgs. 310-312

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Victory and IndependenceDecember 1777-1779pgs.
310-312

• George Washington at Valley ForgeThe Battle of
  SaratogaFrance and Spain Join the War

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December 1777 Valley Forge

• Washington set up headquarters at Valley Forge,
  Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia.
• The army was almost destroyed by cold and hunger.
  By Washingtons own count, 2,898 of his men had
  no boots.
• Many soldiers became ill and died.
• Many questioned if the army would be strong
  enough to win the war.

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Help for the Continental Army

• Friedrich von Steuben of Germany arrived at
  Valley Forge during the winter of 1777.
• He reported to General Washington and took on the
  job of drilling the Continental army to prepare
  them to move quickly during battle.
• By the spring of 1778 the soldiers had been
  trained and were marching well.

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The Push for Help

• The Continental Congress sent Benjamin Franklin
  to Paris to ask the French for help.
• The French were eager to see their enemy, the
  British defeated by the Americans but felt they
  had little chance of winning.
• Benjamin Franklin held talks with the French for
  months.

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The Battle of Saratoga

• The Battle of Saratoga took place in 1777 in New
  York.
• More than 5,000 British soldiers moved south from
  Canada hoping to cut the colonies in two.
• On October 17, 1777, the British lost to American
  soldiers led by General Horatio Gates, commander
  of the New York troops.

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The Turning Point of the War

• The victory at Saratoga convinced France to join
  the war with the Americans.
• The French sent guns, ships, and soldiers to aid
  the Continental army.
• With the help of the French, the Continental
  soldiers fought and won more battles.

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More Help for the Patriot Army

• In 1779 Bernardo de Galvez, the Spanish governor
  of Louisiana sent guns, food, and money to the
  Patriots.
• Later he led his own soldiers in capturing
  British forts in what are now the states of
  Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.