The Battles of Saratoga helped persuade France to openly ally with the United States in 1777, a turning point in the America250 story.
The two battles took place near Saratoga, New York, on September 19 and October 7, 1777. American forces ultimately forced British General John Burgoyne to surrender his army on October 17. General Horatio Gates commanded the American army during the surrender, while Benedict Arnold played an important battlefield role.
The victory demonstrated that the American revolutionary forces could defeat a major British army. France had already provided covert assistance, but Saratoga encouraged the French government to enter a formal alliance with the United States. The Treaty of Alliance was signed in February 1778, bringing French military and naval support into the war.
Saratoga is often called the turning point of the American Revolutionary War. It should not be confused with Yorktown, the later 1781 victory that led directly to the peace negotiations ending the conflict.