The Battles of Saratoga is the name given to the two 1777 American Revolutionary War battles that helped bring France into the conflict.
The first battle took place on September 19, 1777, and the second on October 7, near Saratoga in New York. American forces ultimately defeated the British army commanded by General John Burgoyne, who surrendered on October 17.
The victory demonstrated that the Continental Army could defeat a major British force. It encouraged France to enter the war openly as an American ally in 1778, providing military support, naval power, money, and supplies. French assistance became a major factor in the eventual American victory.
The name can be confusing because the event is often described informally as the “Battle of Saratoga,” even though historians generally refer to the campaign’s two principal engagements as the Battles of Saratoga. The surrender followed the second battle.