Europeans Allies enter the war

   The Battle of Saratoga. This battle was so important because now the French saw that there was a slightly possibility for the Americans to win the war, it was a turning point in the Revolution.

   In late September and during the first week of October 1777, the American army was positioned between Burgoyne's army and Albany. On October 7, Burgoyne took the offensive. The troops crashed together south of the town of Saratoga, and Burgoyne's army was broken. In mop-up operations 86 percent of Burgoyne's command was captured. That victory gave new life to the American cause at a critical time. Americans had just suffered a major setback from the Battle of the Brandywine along with news of the fall of Philadelphia to the British.

   French saw that as an opportunity to ally with American, in a good time, and weaken an old enemy, such as England.

   During early years of the war, they doubted to join the Patriots. That´s why they only shipped some ammunition and other stuff secretly, because they thought that allying with the weaker army was not correct. But the help they gave was so helpful and kept the Patriots alive and fighting. Some French volunteers provided military expertise; Marquis de Lafayette was one. He joined Washington at Valley Forge.

   Finally after that battle ended with favorable results for the Americans, French decide to open a risky allegiance with the Americans that was negotiated in 1778. Americans went to Paris and Benjamin Franklin represented negotiations. He was a good negotiator. The French army and Navy were so strong, but the first charge they did, failed. But the British suffer a blow when Spain enters the war in 1779. They enter as a French ally because they didn´t want the colonies they had, to revolt to them as the Americans did.

   That´s why the Battle of Saratoga was so important.  

The war shifts to the middle states

   In 1776 the British left Boston, they decided to attack and capture New York, so they could cut off New England from the other colonies. A peace conference is held on Staten Island with Lord Richard Howe, meeting American representatives including John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. The conference fails, as Howe demands the colonists revoke the Declaration of Independence. In September 15 of 1776 they capture New York with about 30,000 British and German troops. The Continental army was force to retreat to New Jersey; Washington barely saved the Army and the Revolution retreating on time. After evacuating New York City, Washington's army repulses a British attack during the Battle of Harlem Heights in Manhattan. Several days later, fire engulfs New York City and destroys over 300 buildings. In September 22 1776 Nathan Hale is caught spying on British troops on Long Island, so he gets executed without a trial, his last words were, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country."

   In November came more victories for the British as Fort Washington on Manhattan and over 100 cannon, thousands of muskets and cartridges is captured by Howe. The Americans also lost Fort Lee in New Jersey to Gen. Cornwallis. Washington's army suffers 3000 deaths in the two defeats. Washington abandons the New York area and moves his forces further westward toward the Delaware River. Cornwallis now pursues him. Later on in December Washington takes his troops across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania. The next day, over concerns of a possible British attack, the Continental Congress abandons Philadelphia and went to Baltimore. On Christmas day, Dec. 26, George Washington takes 2400 of his men and crosses the Delaware River. He surprised 17 Garrisons; 1000 Germans were attacked. This was called the Battle of Trenton, this was a modest victory, but it would surely raise the spirit of the Patriots and their followers.

   In 1777 Washington started with yet another victory, he moved his troops at night against Cornwallis at the Battle of Princeton.

   In fall of 1777 he suffer a defeat, and lost Philadelphia to Howe´s army. John Burgoyne another British, came from Canada to invade Hudson Valley; felt into a Patriots trap in Saratoga. Burgoyne surrender in October that same year, in the Battle of Saratoga, this battle was so important because now the French saw that there was a possibility for Americans to win the war, so France and Spain decided to side with the Patriots. 

Colonists endure hard times

   What did the Continental Army needed to succeed? Well, they needed support, so wifes helped a lot by letting their husbands and son free to go to military services or to war. Wifes also made clothing, blankets, and foods for the soldiers, so they could keep on fighting. Without women´s help, what would it be for the Patriots? Who knows if they would be able to survive as individuals, much less as an army.
   British decided to block the ports, but they created more inflation, this means that a specific product is scarce, and then it will turn more expensive because of the demand of it. As always there is one person who thinks he is better than everyone else and took advantage of the situation and started selling rare items at a very high price, and they saw the offers for who offers more and the one that is higher was the one getting the product. The Patriots also contributed in the inflation because they use paper to make money, also known as Continentals, it was a risk that the Continental Congress printed the money because if Patriots suffer a loss in the war, they worth nothing. On the other hand, the British pay for food in gold.

     Women follow husband and son to war, they made and repair cloth; a few help fire canons and masquerading men. Mary Hays went with her husband John, a member of the 1st Pennsylvania Artillery, into the Monmouth, New Jersey Campaign of 1778. During the battle she supplied water to the troops, that is how she  received the name of Molly Pitcher. Like Corbin before her, when Mary's husband was wounded, she assumed his duties in the canons assisting the other artillerymen in the Company.

   

  

The British make mistakes

   They didn't take the Patriots very seriously, as they really were. Two months after the Battle of Lexington they fall in the same rock again in the battle of Bunker Hill. Boston hope to drive British away from the seaport.

   Lord William Howe order a frontal assault by his soldiers in the afternoon, with heavy backpacks, red uniforms, and going uphill.  The Colonists were entrench. Howe wanted to win the battle whatever it takes despite giving the Patriots some advantage. He just wanted to prove that a well prepare and wealthy army was better than one that is not so prepare.

   They tried twice attacking the Colonists, they failed but finally the third time they were able to capture the hill, but they won just because the Patriots run out of ammunitions. The battle was so important for the Patriots because psychologically they won, they now thought that after they gave the British a headache in this battle, because it was difficult for the Brits to win, that they can win other battles to the British.
   The British suffered approximated 1,150 soldiers and wounded or nearly half of the force engaged, while he Americans were estimated at 450 soldiers killed and wounded.

   In January 1776, six months after, Henry Knox arrive with the canons to take the Patriots out of Boston to re force them. They howled the canons hundreds of miles, when Ethan Allan capture Fort Ticonderoga so they could take some canons all the way to boston. Fort Ticonderoga was a major point of conflict in the French and Indian War, and was now an easy target for some reasons: it occupied a strategic point between lakes Champlain and George, the fort held a supply of cannon and other artillery, items badly needed by the rebel forces, the fort was lightly defended.

 Patriots bomb and destroy the ships so finally the British left Boston.