The fight for American independence did not end with early victories or dramatic battles; it evolved into a protracted struggle that tested the limits of courage, strategy, and endurance. Drawing on primary sources, historian Christopher Hamner continues exploring the pivotal turning points and strategic choices that shaped the course and the conclusion of the war.

Session Information

Turning Point: The Battle of Saratoga

From the earliest days of the Revolution, patriot leaders understood that defeating Britain would likely require foreign support. Aid from European rivals—especially France—could provide money, weapons, and diplomatic recognition the struggling colonies desperately needed. But France hesitated to commit fully until the Americans proved they could defeat British forces in open battle.

That proof came in the autumn of 1777 near Saratoga in upstate New York. Hamner explores the strategic context of the war’s third year and the dramatic campaign that ended with the surrender of a British army. He also highlights the crucial role of General Benedict Arnold—still years away from his notorious betrayal—whose bold leadership and battlefield courage helped secure one of the most consequential American victories of the war, convincing France that the patriots’ cause could succeed.

Additional Sessions of the American Revolution, Part 2 Series

• August 20: Valley Forge: Soldier’s Life in the Continental Army
• October 22: Cowpens and Yorktown: The Final Campaigns of the Revolution
• November 19: The Newburgh Conspiracy: Civil–Military Tensions in the Early Republic

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