What was the turning point of the revolutionary war? This is always a major topic and test question for my middle school students during our unit on the Revolutionary War. I have always taught what the textbooks generally mention as the turning point, the battle of Saratoga. Saratoga was so important because it was that victory and subsequent capture of an entire British army that convinced the French to join the American cause. But at almost every stop we have been at each proud lecturer has proclaimed their spot as the “true turning point of the war”. When we were at Washington’s Crossing the park ranger and the wonderful book, Washington’s Crossing by David Hackett Fisher, make a compelling argument for the Battle of Trenton, as the turning point of the war because it was Washington’s first victory solidifying Washington as commander and rallying Americans to the cause. That same day we traveled to the Princeton battlefield where the docent explained that because Princeton was Washington’s first open field command where he took personal charge of the offensive that Princeton was a crucial turning point. Princeton was also Washington’s “first” victory against the British soldiers. When at Germantown, we were told that despite the defeat, Germantown, which coincided with the Battle of Saratoga helped convince the French to join because of the “complexity and planning” of the attack. Before leaving for our trip to Philadelphia I read, Washington’s Secret War: The Hidden History of Valley Forge by Thomas Fleming which claimed that Valley Forge was the turning point because it was a great political victory against ambitious generals and a corrupt Congressional Congress that was ineffectual at getting supplies to the troops. Although the rangers did not claim it was a turning point, the training by Fredrick Von Steuben and reorganization of the commissary department by Nathaniel Green at Valley Forge were critical turning points and would help lead to an impressive draw the following summer at Monmouth Court House. Benjamin Franklin historians might point to his complicated diplomacy in France that secured success. So what is the true turning point and why is there such disagreement?
In many ways this is very similar to the fight that we saw last summer between Lexington, Concord, and Boston about when the Revolutionary War began. Much of the argument is based on local pride in their communities and the competition for local significance. But it is also an exercise in what we value in a closer study of cause/effect events. Is it the actual battles and American actions that convinced the French to join the American cause? Was it the political maneuvering of its leaders? Or was it great leadership that kept the army together in its darkest times?
The question of what the true Turning Point of the war was might be a great exercise for students too. One great exercise might be a writing assignment where students argue which event was the true turning point of the war. To make the exercise more relevant you could make it a group competition where students similarly have to stand up for their community and defend their community’s significance as the turning point in the war. It could also be a great debate that could engage students. This would also reinforce writing skills in developing argument and using specific events as their evidence. By adding competition I would expect expressive language usage and more buy in from the students. It was also engage students in those higher level leaning experiences which have such great rewards academically.
Brilliant analysis of the issue, and great ideas for teaching it! I hope other teachers are doing this sort of teaching!