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.