how did general howe's capture of philadelphia in september 1777 change the course of the war?

British General William Howe took Philadelphia in September 1777 and led the bombardment of Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer later that year to open a supply line to the occupied city. (Library of Congress) The occupation of Philadelphia deviated from a British plan to conquer New England in 1777, after two years of inconclusive war.

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What was the British campaign for Philadelphia in 1777?

THE BRITISH CAMPAIGN FOR PHILADELPHIA AND THE OCCUPATION OF VALLEY FORGE IN 1777. In July 1777, Major General Sir William Howe and approximately 25,000 troops, including a Hessian division, were encamped in and around New York City. The city had fallen to the British in November 1776.

What was General Howe’s plan for capturing Philadelphia?

General Howe had proposed to George Germain, the British civilian official responsible for conduct of the war, an expedition for 1777 to capture Philadelphia, the seat of the rebellious Second Continental Congress.

Where did General Howe fight in the Battle of Philadelphia?

Howe`s Philadelphia Campaign. Congress fled from Philadelphia on September 19, settling first in Lancaster and at the end of the month at York. Howe entered Philadelphia on September 26, but joined the bulk of his troops stationed a few miles northwest of the city near Germantown. Battle of Germantown (October 4, 1777).

Why was General Howe's campaign at Philadelphia controversial?

Howe's campaign was controversial because, although he successfully captured the American capital of Philadelphia, he proceeded slowly and did not aid the concurrent campaign of John Burgoyne further north, which ended in disaster at Saratoga for the British, and brought France into the war.

What was the significance of the capture of Philadelphia?

The Philadelphia campaign (1777–1778) was a British effort in the American Revolutionary War to gain control of Philadelphia, which was then the seat of the Second Continental Congress....Philadelphia campaign.DateJuly 1777–July 1778LocationNew Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, and PennsylvaniaResultInconclusive

What was General Howe's role in the war?

William Howe, in full William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, (born August 10, 1729—died July 12, 1814, Plymouth, Devonshire, England), commander in chief of the British army in North America (1776–78) who, despite several military successes, failed to destroy the Continental Army and stem the American Revolution.

What were the important results of the Battle of Philadelphia?

The large battle was fought all day, but Washington was flanked and defeated, opening the door for the British Army to march into the American capital. Fact #4: The British occupied Philadelphia from September 1777 – June 1778. For nearly a year, the British occupied the American capital.

What was the significance of the City of Philadelphia in 1777?

By 1777, Philadelphia was America's most important urban hub. A bustling port of about 35,000, the city was also America's nascent manufacturing center. By 1775, the foundries of Philadelphia were already casting cannon of iron and bronze.

What was General Howe's reason for capturing Philadelphia?

Howe hoped that by seizing Philadelphia, he would rally the Loyalists in Pennsylvania, discourage the rebels by capturing their capital, and bring the war to a speedy conclusion. Washington tried to thwart Howe's plan, but Howe out-maneuvered him at Brandywine Creek and then at Germantown.

What is General Howe famous for?

He became known for his role in the capture of Quebec in 1759 when he led a British force to capture the cliffs at Anse-au-Foulon, allowing James Wolfe to land his army and engage the French in the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. Howe also participated in the campaigns to take Louisbourg, Belle Île and Havana.

What happened when the British captured Philadelphia?

The British position in Philadelphia became untenable after France's entrance into the war on the side of the Americans. To avoid the French fleet, General Clinton was forced to lead his British-Hessian force to New York City by land.

Why did Howe's Philadelphia victory lead to defeat at Saratoga?

How did Howe's victory in Philadelphia lead to Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga? Burgoyne's needed weapons but got attacked. What disadvantages did the Patriots face in fighting the British?

What happened as a result of the Battle at Brandywine Pennsylvania in the fall of 1777?

The Battle of Brandywine, fought just outside of Philadelphia on September 11, 1777, resulted in an overarching British victory and the conquest of the rebel seat of government.

Why was Philadelphia important during the Revolutionary War?

Philadelphia was the headquarters, if not the official capitol, of the colonies during the American Revolutionary War. This historical city hosted the First Continental Congress, which was held in Carpenter's Hall, before the war, and the Second Continental Congress, which signed the Declaration of Independence.

What Battle happened in 1777?

The Battle of SaratogaThe Battle of Saratoga occurred in September and October, 1777, during the second year of the American Revolution. It included two crucial battles, fought eighteen days apart, and was a decisive victory for the Continental Army and a crucial turning point in the Revolutionary War.

What role did Pennsylvania play in the Revolutionary War?

Pennsylvania's capital, Philadelphia, was the site of the first and second Continental Congresses in 1774 and 1775, the latter of which produced the Declaration of Independence, sparking the American Revolution.