Battle of Saratoga

The British plan of 1777 to end the colonial rebellion was to crush resistance in the colony of New York and thus separate the New England agitators from their southern collaborators.  The plan was devised by Major General John Burgoyne and approved in London by Lord George Germaine and King George III.  Three British armies would meet at Albany (the capital) after travelling long distances and defeating the rebels along their way.

Burgoyne "was to lead an army from St. John's, up Lake Champlain, across to the upper Hudson River and then down to Albany."  Sir Henry Clinton led a second army north from New York City.  Finally, Colonel Barry St. Leger took a third force from Fort Oswego on Lake Ontario "eastward across the Mohawk Valley to capture the strategically important Fort Stanwick" before joining the others.

Clinton met no resistance on his way north.  St. Leger's mission ended in failure and he was forced to withdraw to Quebec.  What happened to Burgoyne changed the history of North America.

On October 7, 1777, near Saratoga, New York, British and American (rebel) forces met in combat.  Second in command that day for the Americans was General Benedict Arnold.  

Arnold started the day at his side's headquarters.  Feeling frustrated, he mounted a horse and rode out into the fray.  Personally leading the American attack, Arnold's forces defeated the enemy.  Ten days later, his British army surrounded, Burgoyne surrendered.

Arnold suffered a broken leg during the battle and was laid up for five months.  In 1780, he was placed in charge of West Point by General George Washington.  Burgoyne returned to England and was never given another command.

"Once news of Burgoyne's surrender (at the Battle of Saratoga) reached France, King Louis XVI decided to (enter into) a formal Franco-American Alliance and French entry into the war.  (As a result) Britain was forced to divert resources from North America to (military) theaters in the West Indies and Europe."  

"France found an opportunity to undercut British power.  After the Battle of Saratoga, which was conclusively won by the Americans, France realized that (the rebels) had the hope of winning the war and began fully aiding (their cause) by sending soldiers, military arms and supplies."   

Almost exactly four years after the Battle of Saratoga (in 1781),  American and French forces defeated the British at Yorktown, Virginia, and in so doing brought an end to the war.  In 1783, the British gave up and by treaty granted the Americans what they wanted, independence.  

However, all was not lost for the British.  They still had Quebec, or what would become known as Canada.