The Battles of Saratoga are widely called a turning point of the American Revolution because they helped bring France into the war.
The fighting occurred near Saratoga, New York, in two major engagements on September 19 and October 7, 1777. American forces were commanded by General Horatio Gates, while British forces under General John Burgoyne attempted to move south through the Hudson River valley.
The second battle produced a decisive American victory, and Burgoyne surrendered his army on October 17. The result demonstrated that the Americans could defeat a major British field force, encouraging France to formalize its support for the United States.
Saratoga is sometimes described as a single battle, but the name properly refers to the connected battles of Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights. The victory also restored Benedict Arnold's military reputation temporarily, although he later became famous for betraying the American cause.