Mr. Chauncey’s History Classes

36 responses so far ↓

• 1    Shawn // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:32 am

  Britain’s strategy was to seize the Hudson River. If their plan worked they’d get seperate New England from other states.

  Mr. C- So why did the British think it would help them to separate New Eng. from the other colonies

• 2    mchael // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:33 am

  i think when the brittish were strategysing they didnt ever think to notice the real power the colonies might have in terms of war. the strategy is meeting at the albany river with 3 armies to cut of the new england states

  Mr. C- Remember to capitalize Proper Nouns…..  What was the “real power” of the colonies?

• 3    just kidding (keaton) // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:36 am

  The Britishes stratagy/plan was to take control or sieze the Hudson River Valley to cut off New England from the rest of the states. they also sent armies from Canada, Lake Ontario down the Mowhawk river, and from New York City to meet in Albany New York. What they failed to consider was how long it would take to travel to Albany and what turrain they would be travaling over. they also didn’t consider if the Continental army knew that they were coming and would try to create road blocks and obsticles that the British would have to overcome.

  Mr. C- Did the British generals (Howe, Burgoyne, and St. Leger) coordinate their actions?  Might the strategy have work if they had?

• 4    Jeff // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:37 am

  The Britsh strategy was to seize the Hudson River Valley and to cut off New England from the rest of the states. Their army would go to Lake Ontario down the Mohawk Valley. They also captured Fort Ticonderoga.

  Mr. C- What would the “cut-off” accomplish?

• 5    connor // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:37 am

  The British overall strategy was to seize the Hudson River Vally. If succesful, they would cut off New England from the other states. The Strategy called for 3 armies to meet at Albany, New York. General John Bergoin would lead a force south from Canada. Leiutentant Colonel Bary St. Leger would lead his army from lake Ontario down to the Mowhawk Vally. Burgoyne expected General How to follow the Hudson north from New York City.
  INFORMATION FROM THE BOOK (Creating America)

  Mr. C- What did Howe do instead?  What was the result of his alternative actions?

• 6    Harry // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:39 am

  The British stratagy was to block off New England from the other states. They would accomplish this by seizing the Hudson River Valley. What they didn’t realize is how difficult they journey would be for Burgoyne. They assumed the route would be easy.

  Mr. C- You use an inportant word in describing how the British formed their strategy…”assumed”.  Can you think of things that the British assumed, or perhaps did not consider, as they undertook this war?

• 7    Kendra // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:42 am

  Britain’s strategy was to conquer the Hudson River Valley. If they did this correctly, New England would be cut off from all of the other states. It involved John Burgoyne, Colonel Barry St. Leger and William Howe. Their plan was to head south from canada and take over fort Ticonderoga. Then Howe would hopefuly come north with his armies to help them. What the British failed to relize is that if they were going to go slow, the colonists would have time to demolish their plans by trying to throw them off route and desroy all of their resorces. Also Howe decided to try to take Pennsylvania instead. Eventually, the british made it to the rendezvous and had the meeting.

  Mr. C- Can you give an example of “throwing off plans”?  What does this situation say about the Britsh ability to coordinate their efforts…..win the war?

• 8    Ben // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:45 am

  Britain’s strategy was to take over the Hudson River Valley. In order for them to do this they would have three armies that would rendezvous in Albany, New York and then General John Burgoyne would lead his force one way, Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger would lead his force another way and General Howe a third way. The problem with this plan was that they did not consider the long trip that it would take them through the wilderness. They had a lot of difficulty coming through the long dreadful 25 miles of what they overlooked as easy walking but then came to a swampy wilderness. This was the problem with the fairly simple plan of meeting in Albany.

  Mr. C- What other part(s) of the British Plan did not come together?

• 9    Gabby // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:46 am

  The British had a strategy for beating New England in the fight. Their strategy was to seize the Hudson River Valley and cut off New England from the other states. They had a few difficulties throughout their journey. Some of these difficulties were the last 25 miles of the trip, swampy wilderness and other land features which created obstacles. Even though the British had a tough trip, they still came through with their strategy and won. They cut New England off from the other states.

  Mr. C- Need to check your facts…..Did the “rendezvous” come together as planned?  What was the result? (Saratoga)

• 10    Jeff O // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:46 am

  The British’s Strategy was to seize the Hudson River Valley. If they succeed they would be able to cut off all of New England from the other states. The British overlooked the terrain that they would have to cross, it took them much longer than they excepted it took them four weeks. They were not prepared for this journey.

• 11    bchauncey // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:50 am

  Many of you have mentioned the British “cutting off” New England……What would this accomplish?

• 12    connor // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:51 am

  I agree to everyones responce. I thought they had very good facts about all of the key terms. They had all of the necessary facts for the questions.

  Mr. C- Can you be more specific in your comment/feedback…..Anything you do not agree with or thhink needs to be expanded?

• 13    chalres // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:52 am

  The strategy the British used was to take other the Hudson River Valley to cut off the Americans. The British would send General John Burgoyne would come from Canada. Lieutenant Colonel Barry St. Leger would go from Lake Ontario to Mohawk Valley. General Howe was expected to follow the Hudson north to New York City. They were all supposed to go to Albany to meet.

  I believe that the British did not think about some things such as the fact that all three armies could get split up or never get to the meeting place or get there at different times. General Burgoyne should have thought about the terrain he would have to cross and the fact that he would have ran out of supplies to eat and other things they needed to have. Howe should have thought about the fact of how he would try to capture George Washington. And St. Leger show have thought about how to be brave and not get so scared even though the Americans sent some Iroquois and a Loyalist to scare St. Leger that the Americans had a huge army.

  Mr. C- What is the result?……..Burgoyne must face the Americans all by himself (Saratoga).

• 14    Harry // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:54 am

  Cutting off New England would corner them. The British could block the border of New England and the ocean would be the border on the other side. New England is a big resource provider. If nothing can get out of New England then the middle and southern states won’t get those resources.

• 15    Jeff // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:54 am

  Cutting off New England would separate them from others and make them weaker. This would give an advantage to the British when fighting.

• 16    connor // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:56 am

  If the British cut off New England the British would accomplish a way of blocking of a huge part of America from the rest of America. It would enable the lower colonies from trying to help the upper colonies.

• 17    Tolani // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:56 am

  Britan’s strategy was to cut New England from the other states.They wanted to seize the Hudson River Valley. This strategy called for three armies to meet in Albany, New York. They failed to consider that this would take along time to do, because they had to build roads and bridges. This took them four weeks to do before they went to their rendezvous.

  Mr. C- What other parts of the strategy failed?  (Howe/St. Leger)

• 18    Gabby // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:57 am

  The phrase,”Cutting off”, refers to New England. The British were cutting them of from the other states which not only didn’t help themselves, it cut the other states from their recources. Cutting off meant the british couldn’t communicate with the other states as well as trading. Cutting off deffinitly would have effected New England drasticly.

  Mr. C- Almost- The British would divide the Americans….but still be able to communicate and travel between regions because they would control the routes.

• 19    Kendra // Dec 8, 2006 at 10:59 am

  Cutting off New England would make the colonies less stronger, since New Emgland has one of the largest cities and mpost productive cities. Also it is cutting off the main route of comunication.

  Mr. C- EXACTLY!

• 20    Jeff O // Dec 8, 2006 at 11:00 am

  “Cutting Off” New England would make New England weaker and less able to defend itselfe during battle.

• 21    Kendra // Dec 8, 2006 at 11:02 am

  Tolani- I totally agree with what you have to say. I think you have the right idea!

• 22    Abby // Dec 8, 2006 at 11:07 am

  The British’s strategy was to seize the Hudson River. If this works then they will cut off New England from the other states. They never made another plan if this does work. They just assumed that this would work. This plan required three armies to meet at Albany, New York. They did not realize that if the other armies could not make it then the plan would not work, they did not make another plan they only had one. During the journey with Burgoyne when they were victorious they would celebrate. They forgot to realize that, that was slowing them down and when they are slowed down the colonists have more time to prepare for them. While the British were celebrating the colonists were cutting down trees to block the roads and driving off cattle so the British will have no supplies.

  Mr. C- Good analysis!

• 23    Harry // Dec 8, 2006 at 1:30 pm

  I really like Charles’s response about what the British overlooked in there strategy. I agree that it is very unorganized having 3 armies going to a meeting place. It is very difficult to get the timing exactly right. Burgoyne should’ve taken into consideration the possible swampy wilderness that Gabby and Ben mentioned. Overall, this was not a very well thought out plan.

• 24    Abby // Dec 8, 2006 at 7:27 pm

  Kendra- I agree with you, “What the British failed to realize is that if they were going to go slow, the colonists would have time to demolish their plans by trying to throw them off route and destroy all of their resources.”(from Kendra’s entry) I think that was right that they were so exited that they had won the battle but then when they were celebrating it gave the colonists more time. I think that the colonists were trying to block the British’s route and not really demolish their plan. Demolish their plan would have been challenging because most likely the colonists did not know the entire British plan.

• 25    Erin // Dec 10, 2006 at 9:25 am

  Britain’s strategy was to seize the Hudson River Valley. This was supposed to cut New England off from the other states. By cutting them off, the colonists will not be able to communicate with eachother. Also Boston has most of the leaders of the Revolution such as Sam Adams, so by cutting them off, their leaders will be seperated. Burgoyne, Howe, and St. Leger were all leading armies to Albany where they were going to rendezvous. The British failed because only Burgoyne made it to Albany. Howe decided to attack Pennsylvania.He succeeded, but did not capture George Washington. St. Leger was scared away from Albany by a rumor. Benedict Arnold sent a captured loyalist and Iroquois to spread a rumor that the Americans had a large army. St. Leger’s army retreated and left behind many of their supplies, leaving itfor the Americans to take. Although Burgoyne made it to Albany, he made it with few supplies. This was due to the celebrations his army had after their victories. This slowed them dow and allowed the Americans to take some of their supplies and knock down trees to complicate their route. That is how the British failed their strategy.

• 26    Erin // Dec 10, 2006 at 9:28 am

  Tolani- I agree with your response. You thought of a different reason why they failed than I did. I only thought of how they didn’t make it to Albany to rendezvous. You, however explained why they didn’t make it and how they didn’t think it through.

• 27    charles // Dec 10, 2006 at 10:14 am

  abby-”The British’s strategy was to seize the Hudson River. If this works then they will cut off New England from the other states. They never made another plan if this does work. They just assumed that this would work. This plan required three armies to meet at Albany, New York. They did not realize that if the other armies could not make it then the plan would not work, they did not make another plan they only had one. During the journey with Burgoyne when they were victorious they would celebrate. They forgot to realize that, that was slowing them down and when they are slowed down the colonists have more time to prepare for them. While the British were celebrating the colonists were cutting down trees to block the roads and driving off cattle so the British will have no supplies.” I think that you have a great understanding about what the British tried to do but the tried to take over the Hudson River Valley not the Hudson River.

• 28    Ben // Dec 10, 2006 at 8:07 pm

  Not only did the part about not coming to the rendevous fell apart in the plans of the British (as I said before) but the whole plan of what they were going to do was take over the Hudson River Valley and cut off New England from the other states also fell apart. This “cutting off” would make it hard for the other states to get Resources from New England and they would not be able to communicate.

• 29    Tolani // Dec 11, 2006 at 9:16 am

  Erin- I agree with you also. You had some ideas that I didn’t think off.You mentioned that Britian cut New England off from the other states because the colonist wouldn’t be able to communicate and their leaders would be seperated.You also had some other reasons why britian failed, such as only Burgoyne made it to Albany,Howe attacked Pennsylvania, and St. Leger was scared away from Albany because of a rumor

• 30    Shannon // Dec 11, 2006 at 11:06 am

  Their strategy was to seize the Hudson River Valley and cut of New England from the other states because they think it might stop other people being able to help or send supplies. They didn’t think about how long the trip would take. They under estimated the colonists who cut down trees, burned crops, and drove off cattle. They did this before The British could get to the places they needed to go.

• 31    Shannon // Dec 11, 2006 at 1:55 pm

  Tolani-i agree with you. you said things i forgot to mention.

• 32    JEFF O // Dec 11, 2006 at 5:57 pm

  Abby- your thoughts were clear and concise. There were also a few things u mentioned that helped me understand the question/answer even more. Such as: all the obstacles that the British the British had to face. While I only mentioned a few. This entry really made me think more.

• 33    Keaton // Dec 11, 2006 at 7:53 pm

  “Cutting off” New England would accomplish reducing the New England states from the rest of the states would weaken them and would also stop communication with them.

• 34    Keaton // Dec 11, 2006 at 8:01 pm

  I agree with Charlie about what the British Officers overlooked in their planning.

• 35    mike // Dec 11, 2006 at 8:29 pm

  Mr. chauncey after they seize new england that would make no other colonies be able to communicate with them and loose all their recouurces from new england wich would be a mager loss for all the other colonies

• 36    Jeff // Dec 11, 2006 at 8:53 pm

  Shannon- I liked your answer because it was short and to the point while still stating the appropriate facts. I liked you mentioned about by cutting off New England the other states would not be able to send supplies (Which I forgot to mention). Good Job!

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