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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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.

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!!

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

waited for this video for a long time. THX YOU SO MUCH!!! If you could also make a video about the battle of of savannah and mention Pulaski that would be great!

This channel is legit. Listens to subscribers, requested a video about this battle. Couldn't be more pleased!

Some of these forts are in great shape and are museums now.

Great video! I've been following your revolutionary war videos closely and I'm glad we finally got to Brandywine! Kennett Square is my hometown and I couldn't help but notice the misspelling on the map "Kenett's Square" instead of Kennett Square. It must be hard having to fill in maps with towns and get spellings and locations right all the time so I totally understand but had to point that out. Can't wait for the rest of the American Revolution videos!

If Benedict Arnold hadn't gone on to commit high treason (spoiler?) I have no doubt that images of him at Saratoga would be given pride of place in every American History textbook ever printed. Charging about the battlefield, contemptuously ignoring British fire, driving the enemy's ranks in upon themselves, it's a Benjamin West painting waiting to happen. With Gates going on to disgrace himself at the Battle of Camden three years later, Arnold would have almost certainly been given the lion's share of the credit for the victory in the post-war popular memory. As it was however, he blew it.

Good treatment of a topic I know reasonably well. I did particularly like the stuff on Carelton -- a man who I think had more to offer than was ever made use of.

Another amazing video! thanks KnG!

Battle of Saratoga is literally my backyard. It’s not only a historic preserve but the entire area Saratoga county NY is filled with British street names. The major roads were original Indian hunting trails that became the major road ways that connect NYC all the way up to Buffalo NY. On top of the the revolutionary war but the French and Indian war as well. My wife’s family has been here since late 1700s and she was able to literally show me every route, back road, even dirt trails that lead to cities and towns. What’s even crazier is we have some old homes that even though ancient still stand today and have musket balls stuck in them.

Just letting you know - I hit a super fecta at the Saratoga track last summer. Thanks George! Love you and love America

Having to wait 1 month for each of these videos is so rough lol. Great work

6:16, so Franklin cultivated an air of mystery in Paris. One could even say he possessed a certain je ne sais quoi.

Thanks for another great video!

These are some of your best videos! Keep up the great work! Something that I personally always bring up when people say France and Spain won the US it's war of Independence is that 3 of the 4 biggest victories in the war were won prior to the French and Spanish alliance. Just Yorktown was won after them. 2. Saratoga 3. Trenton 4. Boston/Bunker Hill. And you could say more also depending on where you rank other victories like Princeton, Lexington and Concord, Ticonderoga, ect. There are of course then also Cowpens, and Chesapeake Bay (That probably should be up there but can also be thought of as part of Yorktown).

Cool video! I grew up in Stillwater ny, the town the battle of Saratoga took place in. Never seen it illustrated to this level!

excellent as always

I'm loving this series. Vague memories of the names and battles begin making more sense. Also, it interests me to see Washington's command, and note how competent Howe appears to be

Fantastic work!

Thanks for the video

Wonderful series!

😊 Great video guy's keep them coming 👍 👏

Another great video, K&G! Really like this series, as it's close to home. Although, I have a few comments: at 3:37, the name of Marquis de Lafayette was butchered, unfortunately. Also, Quebec should be pronounced "Key-bec" (which is the current French prononciation, as its population was - and still is - majority french-speaking), and written with the accent on the first e: Québec. But I don't know if the English prononciation was conscious or not. Also, in Québec, there was a war in the 19th century, the Patriots' Rebellion. It would be cool to cover it someday. Some fights happened in the same city I live in. Thank you again for the awesome videos. Cheers.

Fantastic channel man

crazy to see kings and generals make a video about the area i live in

I love the channel keep up the amazing. Work

Very cool to see my hometown of Newtown on the map at 25:30! Loved growing up around all this history

Phenomenal video 🎉

This series are very interesting, I would like to see in future videos the wars of independency of other American countries, for example Venezuela. Or the life and campaigns of important American revolutionary figures like Simón Bolívar or José de San Martín. I love this channel. 😊

@KingsandGenerals @11:18 the largest factor in the British decision to go up the Chesapeake instead of the Delaware: the defenses built on the Delaware River to prevent this precise scenario. Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer (designed by the mentioned Kosciuszko) were built and garrisoned on opposite sides of the Delaware with an impenetrable chevaux de frise spanning the river. Fire rafts were also available and utilized to help deter incursions.

Im from Saratoga. I love hearing about local historic battles like this

This video leaves out the most important part: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical reenactment of Alexander Hamilton’s life kept morale very high among the Continentals

Oh and just saying but this video came out right at the exact time when I was expecting an amazing video from you guys and what I mean by expecting a video is because today march 7th is my birthday and I just turned 23 today.

incredible!!

Excellent videos I have one request relating to events that transpired during the American civil war or better yet can you're illustrate a video highlighting the contribution by African-Americans in all of Americans war's

Great video!

Epic History just will not stop. ❤

I visited Bemis Heights last year and I can tell you, it is way bigger than it appears on maps. Definitely a huge scale battle by revolutionary war standards

K&G is probably the only channel I love every single video from. I've just always loved the format and the narrator's presentation. Note that I was interested to check if the advertised K&G t-shirt is made of sustainable fabric, but clicking the ad lead to a 404 not found on the shop's site.

Few notes about the Saratoga campaign the Brunswick troops who you said were horseless were sent as infantry not Calvary but part of the British goals at Bennington was to get them horses. Also it was about a month after the second battle of Saratoga that Burgoyne surrendered you make it sound instant.

Thank you.

Can you make a video about the Roman social war?? Love your vids 😊

Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko mentioned !!! Вялікі чалавек і нацыянальны герой у Беларусі, ЗША, Літве і Польшчы !

Fantastic!

I can’t wait for the next episode and my guess is that it will feature the battle of Monmouth.

Quick anecdote on the college degrees for jobs story: I was in a similar position as Benita in my first career. I started as a part-time 3rd shift employee at Speedway. 6 months later I became a shift leader. 6 months after that I became an Assistant GM. About a year later, I became a GM, overseeing a team of about 20 employees at any given time... and I was 22. I was, at least at that time, the youngest GM in the history of the company. But, at that point, my progress was done. There was no other role at the company that was a promotion/pay raise without a 4-year college degree. At that point, I started to no longer care beyond l the bare minimum, and started shopping around for other jobs. Then, a year and a half or so after making GM, I got a job at Tesla as a salesman and was immediately making more money + working less hours, had consistent hours, and got a $30,000 signing bonus... We live in a stupid world lol

I never heard of Koscusko but am glad to have learned a Pole was so important in the revolution

At Bennington, most of the militia, brigade strength, was from New Hampshire under the command of John Stark who was appointed as an independent command. Who working with the Vermont Militia and Vermont Continentals under Seth Warner took Baum's main position. Warner's men applied the Coup de Grace that day taking out Breymann's Relief Column and making sure Burgoyne could not get supplied by the farms of Vermont.

When Barry St Leger interviewed a once trusted loyalist Indian guide who had secretly allied with the Americans he asked the Indian how large Arnold's reinforcement column was the Indian said no words he simply rose his hands and gestured to the leaves of the trees which in native American terms meant numbers uncountable. This was sufficient to scare off a majority of St Legers native forces and caused the withdrawal of some loyalist militia as well, thus hindering St Leger's ability to take Fort Stanwix.

Love your work guys!😊😊😊❤❤❤

I would love to see you cover the battle of Kings Mountain and the scots Irish fight against the British!😊

For those interested, the book "Bloody Mohawk" does a good job at showing the aftermath of Saratoga and the raids on the NY countryside that continued after.

That's cool, Im pretty sure I kayaked right over the same north western shores of lake champlain that these ships sailed over. Basically, on the border between Quebec and Vermont (I got intercepted by a BP speed boat)

I love the new music!!

"Howe hasn't capture Philadelphia, Philadelphia has Captured Howe" Benjamin Franklin's spin on the news of Howe Taking Philadelphia.

Been to these forts, or the remnants of them. Really wild to stand there.

Just as a heads up, your overworld map has the Quabbin Reservoir on it. It didn't exist at this point in history. Noticed at 21:00 southwest of Northfield. Either way, kick ass series.

Excellent

Growing up in northern New Jersey it’s fascinating really taking it in that those lands were once crisscrossed by his majesty’s army and under the dominion of the British crown.

Would be cool if you guys made an episode of how the US navy was established and about the US / Ottoman Barbary Wars.

We had a statue of General Schuyler in Albany. Key word had, as in past tense.

- Burgoyne bet, and lost, a large sum of money on his campaign. - Burgoyne based his plans on a map of North America. He apparently assumed that upstate New York was flat and, like much of Europe, deforested. - His army not only had soldiers, but brought along an army of wives, mistresses and other camp followers who slowed his progress and consumed his supplies. - As his army trudged through the the forested highlands in upper New York, they were besieged by mosquitos, chiggers and "no-see ums", all of which seriously eroded morale.

gah i love this channel

Damn that was good!❤

The victories at Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights (known to history later as Saratoga) was made possible by Lt Col. Barry St Leger's defeat at Fort Stanwix and Oriskany. Fort Stanwix was the " Fort that never surrendered", under command of Col Ganesvoort and the 3rd NY Continentals. The Battle of Oriskany (Aug 6th) was the bloodiest battle of the entire war. (22 of my direct ancestors fought at both Fort Stanwix and Oriskany) If Stanwix fell, Burgoyne would have had enough troops to win.

Just as good as History Oversimplified version.

As someone from the area, the back fifth of this vid is fun just for the pronunciation differences alone lol. Great documentary though.

11:26 There were some defenses in the lower deleware that would delay an advance up the river. Not significant enough to oppose a determined britsh storming. But ... As was seen later when the brits eventually had to clear them. It was enough for a significant delay. Though..... Their was a landing zone nearby that could have been used to easily flank these defenses.... ++ Even later on during a legal inquiry..... His subordinate who new the area well due to running the local blockade..... Was very confused at this moment....

Britain protesting privateers is so funny

There is one "Lafayette" street in almost every state. He managed to get plenty of fame of his own.

Can you do a series on the war of 1812 and the Haitian revolution.

TY

Saratogain here, get dunked on Howe, now we race Horses in our unburned city and sometimes go too the other county too see the battlefield

I think it is important to point out the pauses that Howe needed to take to forage. Simply put, Howe needed to send out significant forces to forage, because smaller detachments would be harassed or defeated by militia. Edit: Also, shout out for Schuyler and Kościuszko. Their delaying action enabled the American build up, and the attrition of the British. If the name Schuyler sounds familiar to anyone, Alexander Hamilton married one of his daughters.

Can you do a series on the war of 1812

This is what we call in the industry an elite gamer move...

The American Revolution was a world global war and not just within the 13 Colonies. Unfortunately Spanish involvement is never mentioned particularly because Spain was an unofficial ally but I argue it was an ally nontheless nevertheless! Spanish aid was extremely vital and decisive for American independence! Spain sent the very first foreign weapons to the American Revolution through the Gardoqui family in February 1775! 300 muskets or rifles and 600 pistols arrived to Marblehead Massachusetts from Spain! Spanish aid was there before Lexington and Concord, before the Declaration of Independence and before America's so called first and oldest ally France! Spain also provided muskets to Saratoga in 1777! So it wasn't just France as everyone believes. Spain paid and funded the Yorktown campaign paying both the French and Continental soldiers who hadn't been paid for several months and years causing several mutinees and also paid and refurbished Degrasse's French fleet allowing Degrasse to travel to both the Chesapeake and later Yorktown which Spain also had a huge role in making Yorktown happen! Spanish General Bernardo de Gálvez was kind and generous enough to release his own French troops under Spanish command and - ALLOWED - ALLOWED Degrasse to take them to go reinforce Rochambeau at Yorktown! Sadly, none of this is taught in our American schools and colleges. Spain helped us win the American Revolution! France alone could never have led the 13 Colonies to victory.

This History Must Always Be Taught In USA Schools!God Bless Your Work 😇💒.

Is this music in the intro of the video from a video game somewhere? I feel like I know it.

Crazy how Washington just kept surviving attack after attack. Battle after battle.

So the reason why France decided to assist the rebels in the American Revolution because the Foreign Minister of France believed it will somehow miraculously saved France from the debts it already has because it will allowed France to reclaim Quebec somehow? And if that is the case, why no French representatives went to Britain in the aftermath of the American Revolution to ask for the return of Quebec and for Britain to pay for war reparations? Last time I checked, no negotiations happened between Britain and France in the aftermath of the American Revolution. But correct me if I'm wrong about this. And to continue with my "what-if" question last time, what will be the impacts of the British victory in the American Revolution around the world? Will the Indian subcontinent still become one of Britain's overseas possessions in the end? What will be the fate of Australia here? Will something like the Scramble for Australia happened between the other European powers if Britain has no needed for it as a penal colony since they still have the Thirteen Colonies and Canada? Will be the westward expansion under the British oversight even happened at all? And most importantly, how will the defeat of the rebels in the American Revolution prevented the French and the Haiti Revolutions in the future?

Howe: *moves* Washington: this must be… a faint

Francis Marion deserves to be mentioned