Teacher Resources
Saratoga Springs
Inquiry Question
What makes a military event a "turning point"? Does Saratoga deserve that label?
Primary Sources
What Teachers and Students Use
Orderly Book of Lieut. Gen. John Burgoyne
PRIMARY · Munsell (ed. E.B. O'Callaghan)
5 analysis prompts
Horatio Gates Papers, 1726-1828
PRIMARY · New-York Historical Society
5 analysis prompts
Convention of Saratoga: Articles of Capitulation, October 17, 1777
PRIMARY · National Archives and Records Administration
5 analysis prompts
Saratoga National Historical Park Official Site and Administrative History
INSTITUTIONAL · National Park Service
5 analysis prompts
Decision on the Hudson: The Saratoga Campaign of 1777
SECONDARY · National Park Service (John Luzader)
5 analysis prompts
Downloads
Ready to Print
Student packet, teacher guide with answer key, and quiz — each formatted for classroom printing.
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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
Explore Further
Saratoga Springs in the Knowledge Graph
The lesson packet draws from these pages. Use them to extend the lesson or give students primary source context.
Comparative Study
Connected Towns
The corroborate prompts in the student packet point to these towns. Teachers can assign cross-town comparisons.
Albany
SHARED EVENT
Albany was Burgoyne's objective; his failure to reach it led to surrender at Saratoga.
Bennington
SHARED EVENT
The Bennington defeat weakened Burgoyne before Saratoga, contributing to his surrender.
Ticonderoga
ROUTE
Burgoyne's invasion route passed through Ticonderoga on its way to defeat at Saratoga.
Assessment
Saratoga Springs in the American Revolution
Answer the following questions based on our study of Revolutionary history. · 5 questions · Answer key in Teacher Guide PDF
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 in the full quiz PDF
Ready to Print?
All three documents below — student packet, teacher guide, and quiz — are formatted for letter-size classroom printing.