The American Crisis · Character

General Burgoyne

The British general whose surrender at Saratoga becomes Paine's measuring stick for victory, invoked to shame Howe's cautious retreat into Philadelphia.

supporting

Also known as Burgoyne, General Burgoyne

First appearance: the crisis i

As a supporting figure in The American Crisis, General Burgoyne is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Mentioned as a prisoner after Saratoga; his capture is seen as a decisive blow to British prestige.

In the storyThe Crisis V: To Gen. Sir William HoweOpen this moment free

Burgoyne never speaks in these pages, yet his defeat haunts every argument Paine makes about what the American army might achieve. Paine uses him as a rhetorical weapon: if Burgoyne's captured army could force Howe into winter quarters, then the same fate awaits any British commander who underestimates colonial resolve. He matters because his shadow turns Saratoga from a single battle into a template for how the war might be won.

See General Burgoyne in The Crisis V: To Gen. Sir William Howe Book page

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Character Web

7 connections

A slice of how General Burgoyne sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Key Figures and Factions
British and Loyalist Opponents
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This excerpt marks the dramatic climax because it presents the emotional and psychological peak of the conflic…

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In the story

General Burgoyne appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

The Crisis V: To Gen. Sir William Howe
Mentioned as a prisoner after Saratoga; his capture is seen as a decisive blow to British prestige.
To the Inhabitants of America
Referenced as an example of an invader whose initial success at Saratoga led to his defeat.
The Crisis VII: To the People of England
Mentioned as a symbol of British defeat, his conquest being treated as impossible by Parliament.
The Crisis XI: On the Present State of News
Mentioned in the Spanish memorial as a lawful prisoner, illustrating British inconsistency.
Endnotes
Burgoyne's capture at Saratoga is referenced, and the notes mention that Washington was credited with a role in it.

Chapter companion notes

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See General Burgoyne in the crisis i

See General Burgoyne in The Crisis V: To Gen. Sir William Howe