Teacher Resources
Saratoga Springs
Students analyze why the Battles of Saratoga are considered the turning point of the American Revolution, focusing on the French alliance that followed and the diplomatic chain of causation running from the battlefield to Paris. Using maps, timelines, and primary sources, students trace how a military victory in upstate New York changed the character of a global war.
Grade Range
6-8
Duration
2 class periods
Included
3 Resources
What's Included
Everything
You Need
- 5 primary sources with analysis prompts
- Quiz with answer key (5 questions)
- 3 printable handouts
Lesson Overview
Students analyze why the Battles of Saratoga are considered the turning point of the American Revolution, focusing on the French alliance that followed and the diplomatic chain of causation running from the battlefield to Paris. Using maps, timelines, and primary sources, students trace how a military victory in upstate New York changed the character of a global war.
Essential Questions
- What makes a military event a "turning point"? Does Saratoga deserve that label?
- How do military outcomes shape diplomacy? What did France need to see before committing to the American alliance?
Primary Sources
5 Sources for Analysis
PRIMARY · TIER1
Orderly Book of Lieut. Gen. John Burgoyne
Munsell (ed. E.B. O'Callaghan)
PRIMARY · TIER1
Convention of Saratoga: Articles of Capitulation, October 17, 1777
National Archives and Records Administration
INSTITUTIONAL · TIER1
Saratoga National Historical Park Official Site and Administrative History
National Park Service
View SourceSECONDARY · TIER1
Decision on the Hudson: The Saratoga Campaign of 1777
National Park Service (John Luzader)
Lesson Plan
In the Classroom
Learning Objectives
- 1Explain the British strategy of dividing the colonies along the Hudson and why Saratoga ended that strategy
- 2Describe the diplomatic sequence from Burgoyne's surrender to the French Treaty of Alliance (February 1778)
- 3Analyze Benjamin Franklin's role in leveraging Saratoga news at the French court
- 4Evaluate whether Saratoga or some other event was the true "turning point" of the Revolution
Assessment
Saratoga Springs in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history.
What makes Saratoga Springs significant in Revolutionary history?
multiple choice
Primary sources are documents or objects created during the time period being studied.
true false
Name one event that occurred in Saratoga Springs during the Revolutionary period and explain its significance.
short answer
+ 2 more questions in the full packet
Ready to Print?
The full teacher packet includes cover page, lesson plan, all primary source worksheets, quiz, answer key, and standards alignment — formatted for classroom printing.