The American victory at Saratoga in 1777 persuaded France to enter the Revolutionary War openly as a U.S. ally.
The Battles of Saratoga took place near Saratoga, New York, on September 19 and October 7, 1777. The campaign ended when British General John Burgoyne surrendered his army to American General Horatio Gates on October 17.
The victory demonstrated that American forces could defeat a major British army. France had already provided covert assistance, but Saratoga helped convince the French government that an alliance with the United States could weaken Britain and improve France’s strategic position.
The resulting Franco-American alliance was formalized in 1778. French money, troops, weapons, naval support, and military operations became crucial to the eventual American victory at Yorktown. Saratoga is therefore often called the turning point of the Revolutionary War, while Yorktown is remembered as its decisive final campaign.