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

1. Victory and IndependenceDecember 1777-1779pgs. 310-312 George Washington at Valley ForgeThe Battle of SaratogaFrance and Spain Join the War

2. December 1777 – Valley Forge • Washington set up headquarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. • The army was almost destroyed by cold and hunger. By Washington’s 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.