How Did the Americans Turn the Tide Against the British?

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Fun fact: Here in Brazil, at least until the 1980s, Benjamin Franklin was more studied in science books than history books, because he invented the lightining rod.

The Writer Here: I don't have a book recommendation this time. Instead, I recommend the official work put out by the National Park Service, who oversee the preservation of the battlefields and sites in this video though Saratoga National Historic Park, Valley Forge National Historic Park, and Independence National Historic Park. The official historians keep the official histories, available for free online, and update them as new scholarship and archeology emerges. I highly recommend their work. If you happen to catch them during a park visit, they're usually happy to tell you everything you want to know, and a great deal you'd never have thought to ask about. As for the relevant stories that didn't make it into the video: 1. Paine was quite prolific. Most only learn about _Common Sense_, but he was constantly writing pamphlets in support of the Revolution. 2. Pitt the Elder's most famous speech against the war ended "If I were an American, as I am an Englishman, while a foreign troop was landed in my country, I never would lay down my arms, never never never!" 3. Why didn't I mention "insert European officer here"? There's only so much time and Lafayette is a required inclusion. I think Kosciuszko is both extremely important and almost unknown, so he gets the nod. 4. On that subject, my research indicated at least three different ways to pronounce Kosciuszko's name. I don't think the Poles and Lithuanians agree on how either. Also, the reason he sought out Ben Franklin is that he didn't have any letters of recommendation to present to Washington or Congress, but he knew of Franklin and bet correctly that Franklin would appreciate talent. 5. The French front company Rodrigue Hortalez et Compagnie and its head Pierre Beaumarchais were responsible for suppling somewhere between 50-95% of all the gunpowder used by the Continental Army, depending on your source. 6. There are a lot of stories about Franklin in Paris. Stories that would get us strongly demonetized with prejudice. Suffice to say, he was having a very good time on the company dollar. 7. Clinton had little faith in Germain's ability to run a war and disagreed with Howe's strategy. He'd used his leave to petition for an independent command or at least to be relieved of duty. 8. The initial clash between the Continental scouts and von Knyphausen's column at Brandywine occurred around a Quaker meetinghouse, which was holding midday services. The congregation continued their prayers as the battle swirled around them, and calmly left like nothing was happening. 9. At Germantown, Howe was nearly killed by cannonfire as he rode forward to inspect what he thought was a clash between his forward position and Continental foragers. 10. Despite being horseless, the Brunswick Dragoons still stayed with Burgoyne the whole campaign. They had to march in their riding jackboots. 11. Burgoyne claimed that he didn't return to Ticonderoga after his pursuit ended because it'd be bad for morale. However, historians suspect that the Loyalist whose home Burgoyne used as his headquarters, Philip Skene, played a role in convincing Burgoyne to continue overland. As the founder of Skenesboro, he stood to gain massively from the military road Burgoyne had to build to reach Albany. 12. The circumstances of Jane McCrea's death aren't clear beyond she was being escorted to camp by native warriors and one was later found to have her scalp. Burgoyne was too afraid of alienating his allies to do anything about it. 13. Congress hated Washington's Fabian strategy, and Gates exploited that by advocating direct confrontation. 14. For reasons unclear, Clinton didn't actually move up the Hudson until October 3. He was making decent progress when he learned that Burgoyne had surrendered, so he gave up and went back to New York. 15. Arnold and Gates had been friends, but Gates failed to mention any subordinates in his dispatches and that inflamed Arnold's ego. Their falling out was capped by a shouting match that could be heard throughout the camp. 16. While Arnold's actions during Second Saratoga are impressive, accounts from the day suggest he'd been drinking out of frustration and anger. He was almost certainly there without orders and would be sidelined by Gates again following the battle.

This is why Arnold's defection to the British later came as such a shock to the Revolutionary cause. Previous videos mention some his earlier contributions to the war, but here, coming out his tent and leading, from the fore, the attack that secured victory in the battle that turned the fortunes of the war, and being wounded while doing so, had solidified him as a hero in the eyes of the American public. For him to turn traitor later was truly horrifying to those same people, and, thus, his name became forever synonymous with "traitor" for the people of the US.

I was really thrilled when I discovered that I had a 6th great grandfather who was a Revolutionary War veteran. He fought in a lot of the early major battles, including what he called “both battles of Stillwater,” aka Saratoga.

Fun Fact: When Benjamin Franklin finally went to meet King Louis XVI he wore the same blue suit that he had worn many years earlier when he sat before Britain's privy council being denounced as a traitor. Ironically it was this that actually turned the elderly statesmen into a Patriot. Before had he was reluctant to go against Britain.

As a local to the Philadelphia/Pennsylvania area I would like to point out that New Hope didn’t get that name until 1790 when there was a fire and after rebuilding was renamed “New Hope”. At the time of the revolutionary war the town would have been to referred to as Coryell’s Ferry

I live in Albany NY which is about 20 minutes away from Saratoga. My father is also buried at Saratoga National Cemetery so this episode was special to me. Thanks for all you do on this channel. I appreciate it. Also love wizards and warriors channel

Almost 3.5m subs! Been watching your journey the last 4-5 years. Thank you for this content.

We need more historical fiction exploring Benjamin Franklin: International Man of Mystery.

Tadeusz Kościuszko mentioned!! 🎉 (incoherent happy Polish noises)

The people who are watching these videos are so different in their thoughts, their believes, their hopes, and their dreams, to a point where it is almost impossible to find something in common between them. but I am 100% certain EVERY PERSON ON PLANET EARTH AGREES that This work you are doing is " The Greater good". keep up the good work guys!

Great video! Glad you’re using a clip art of a younger Washington, not the usual later depictions of him when he was older as a President

It'S important to note that not all British auxiliary units were "hessians". The term hessians is more a swear word from the americans, negatively adressing all non-british forces that they thought were mercenaries. However, there did not exist one hessian state. British used troops from Hessen-Kassel, Hessen-Hanau, Braunschweig (Brunswick), Anhalt-Zerbst, Ansbach-Bayreuth and other states.

General Phillip Schuyler is actually pronounced as Sky - ler. The town that Burgoyne's surrender in was called Saratoga, and is now named Schuylerville (which is my hometown). Schuyler's House (and an obelisk celebrating the battle) are in Schuylerville. Jane McRae is pronounced Mc - ray. The reports of her death and the use of Hessian mercenaries enraged the colonists and led to the huge influx of troops to Gates position between the first and second battle. Bemis Heights is pronounced Bee - miss. Finally, the injury that Arnold sustained led to his recovery in Philadelphia. His anger of Gates taking credit for the victory at Saratoga and the problems with his military governance eventually led Arnold to his betrayal of the Revolution. And just because any British person visiting the battlefield will get it wrong, there is a town just east of Schuylerville named Greenwich. In New York, that is pronounced Green - witch.

Love the video, but youre missing an A in Lafayette at around 3:40.

yyuuusss!! Been watching the History Channel marathons lately. This is perfect timing. ty for the content!!

Middle Brook area is in Bridgewater, NJ. I grew up near General Washington's camp at Middle Brook and it was a dominating position over the surrounding area! I was always in awe at his intelligence, taking the perfect position on the First Watchung Ridge to scout Redcoats in NYC and New Brunswick. There was no way for British Redcoats to take those redoubt positions and push to Morristown or to just push them off the First Watchung ridge, so they couldn't flank a push West from New Brunswick to Trenton and then finally Philadelphia. The NJ campaigns prior to loss of Philadelphia are underrated in their importance. New Jersey is the key to NYC and Philadelphia.

This was extremely well-made, and I absolutely love that you used footage from total war Empire, one of my favorite games! Well, done in all respects!

Last time I was this early for Kings and Generals, the Stamp Act was still in effect.