The Battle of Saratoga

One of the greatest battles in history is known as the battle of Saratoga. This was considered one of the most crucial victories for the Patriots since it gave them the confidence and emotional strength they needed to win the Revolutionary War. In fact, this battle is considered one of the "Fifteen Most Decisive Battles in World History". This battle gave the Patriots a good reputation and made them and other countries realize that there was a small possibility that they could actually win this war. France saw this and joined the Patriots in an attempt to hurt and weaken their old enemy England. This battle also gave strength to Washington and his Continental Army since they received more supplies as a result of their alliance to France. The Saratoga Battle is made up of two different battles that were fought in September and October of 1777.

The Battle of Saratoga was led by Horatio Gates. While the British Army was led by John Burgoyne. This battle took place on the Hudson River, in Saratoga, New York. It was fought by the Battle Freeman's Farm and Battle of Bemis Heights. The British commander, Burgoyne wanted to cut off New England from the rest of the colonies. While he advanced to the south of Canada, his forces were reinforced by Red Coats that were led by General Howe. Then, Burgoyne and his troops defeated the Continental Army at Freeman's a Farm. Days after the victory, John Burgoyne's troops were attacked by the Americans at Bemis at Heights. The British pull back when American used defensive techniques. Approximately 1,000 Red Coats were killed. After the retreat, John Burgoyne's troops were surrounded by the American troops. At the end, the British a General surrendered.

The victory of the Battle of Saratoga for the Americans was look like a new life for them because they were in a critical time. This victory helped the Americans to organize because they had just suffered a major loose in the Battle of the Brandywine. This impressive victory happened in October 1777. One important thing that happened is that France have confidence in America, therefore, they enter the war as allies of them. That was a very good help, but as always every help needs a payment. The colonists had a great deal with France on aiding the form of financial and the military assistance. After the Battle of Saratoga, the Britsh were surrounded under the control of General Burgoyne. This was one of the mayor turning points of the Revolutionary War. Finally, a good advantage is that the American morale was boosted and the country now felt that they could win wars.

Benjamin Franklin

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing." ~ B. Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was one of the greatest American citizens that ever lived and the people will never forget him. He was an inventor, a scientists, a statesman, a printer, a philosopher, a musician, and an economist. He lived by his words and he tried to write as much as he could, he also tried to do things worth writing by dedicating most of his life to his native land. Today he is honored as one of America's Founding Fathers. Although he was born in Boston, Massachusetts on January 17,1706; the city of Philadelphia is known as his home. His father Josiah Franklin was a soap maker and he had 17 children including Benjamin Franklin. He received some formal education but was principally self-taught.

He worked in the fourth newspaper published in the colonies called the "New England Courant". This newspaper was founded by James his half-brother. Franklin wrote 14 essays for this newspaper and this were his first published writings, however they were kept secret. Later, he became a printer and he published "The Pennsylvania Gazette" which ran from 1730-1748. But his most succesful published book was an annual publication called: "Poor Richard's Almanac". This book had so  much popularity that it was second only to the Bible and it spread to Europe. By 1748, he achieved recognition for his writings and financial independence.

He was the leader of a political party and during the controversy of the Stamp Act, he became the spokesman of American Rights in London. His reputation was endangered when he and his family were threatened by the mob who opposed his ideas. But Franklin was not a coward, he stood by the American position in the House of Commons and this restored his prestige. When he returned to Pennsylvania, he became an important member of the Continental Congress. After only one year had passed, he served on the committee that helped draft the Declaration of Independence. He served his country until the end in fact, shortly before he died he signed a memorial recommending the abolition of slavery. Benjamin Franklin died on 1790 when he was 84 years old in Philadelphia, and this great man is an example of the most outstanding American citizens of all time.

The Battle of Bunker Hill

The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought in June 17,1775. Only days after Washington was elected as the new Commander of the Continental Army. The battle took place on Breed's Hill. The British were threatening them, and the Major General William Howe who lead the British forces, had the opportunity to surround the Americans with his ships at sea. Howe instead went with his soldiers to the hill, Howe believed that the Americans would forcefully retreat if they did a surprise attack. Howe was totally wrong because when the British soldiers crossed the Charles River, the Americans were waiting to counter attack. When the Americans saw the British soldiers, they killed as many as they could and the remaining British forces retreated down the hill. But the British never gave up and they attacked the hill again. In the second wave, they suffered from the same consequences.     

The third wave started!!! The British were already up the hill, and  the Americans were  running low of ammunition. As a result, the British finally took the hill but it wasn't easy. On the other hand, the British had 2,300 soldiers in total and they lost 1,054. Although the British won the battle, this victory took away the lives of many soldiers, especially the officers. However, the Americans got courage from the battle adn they believed that they had a fighting chance against the British. After this events, many colonists joined the army after the battle. Another advantage that colonists got at the end of this war is that the revolution continued to grow.

These are some interesting facts about the Battle of Bunker Hill. When the colonists ran out of ammunition, they were told "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes". The American troops worked hard during the night building their strong defenses, and many walls that they built, measured approximately six feet long. General William Howe was left astonished by the American defenses. And the British suffered the most casualities on every fight during the American Revolutionary War. In London, the news of Bunker Hill convinced the King that the situations in the Colonies had escalated too high and quickly.At the end, the King had organized an uprising and told the people that they should not treat this war as a foreign war. 

Ethan Allen

Have you ever wonder who Ethan Allen was? He was a very important figure of what we now know as the United States of America. Ethan Allen is mostly known for being the founder of the State of Vermont and also because he fought during the American Revolution as the leader of the Green Mountain Boys. Allen was born January 21, 1738 in Litchfield, Conneticut. Ethan Allen was a boy who had the dream to study in Yale University. Unfortunately, his father died in 1755 and he had to take care of his family and the family farm. Apart form being the leader of one of the strongest militia organizations, Ethan Allen was also a writer of many book and even pamphlets. One of the things not many people know about him is that he formed part of a group of intelligent men who made possible the independent commonwealth. Today, you can see Ethan Allen as a notable person of the American Revolution.

Ethan Allen was named the commander of the militia popularly known as the Green Mountain Boys. At first, Allen had any official rank in the Continental Army. Later on, he turned out to be the Lieutenant Colonel in the Continental Army and also General of the militia. During the American Revolution, Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys fought skirmishes in the frontier in order to fight the New Yorkers. Alongside Benedict Arnold, which was a general of the American Revolution, Allen and his soldiers captured Fort Ticonderoga in May 10, 1775. Fort Ticonderoga was first captured by the British, but the Patriots have the advantage of recapturing Fort Ticonderoga. The capture of the Fort was one of the first successful battles of the American Revolution War. After that, he managed to captured Crown Point, Fort St. John, and Fort Ann in the following weeks.

Ethan Allen wanted to invade Canada alongside Seth Warner, a chief lieutenant. Unfortunately, he was captured by the British in Montreal. Then, Ethan was exchanged for Colonel Archibald Campbell in 1778. When Ethan Allen returned to the colonies, he reported to George Washington, which was the military commander if the Continental Army, at Valley Forge in Pennsylvania. Furthermore, he returned to Vermont to follow his routine of fighting territorial disputes. While in Vermont, he wrote "Reason, The Only Oracle of Man" with some ideas of his friend Thomas Young, which was a philosopher. Allen wrote books and pamphlets to support Vermont because he wanted Vermont to become a state. In his last years, he went back to his farm to leave a peaceful life alongside his family. Ethan Allen died quietly in his farm in February 1789. He was very wise man.