The Battle of Saratoga persuaded France to openly ally with the United States during the Revolutionary War commemorated by America250.
The Battles of Saratoga took place in 1777 in New York. American forces first checked and then defeated a British army commanded by John Burgoyne. The campaign culminated in the British surrender at Saratoga on October 17, 1777.
The victory demonstrated that the American rebellion could defeat a major British force rather than merely wage irregular resistance. France had already provided covert assistance, but Saratoga encouraged a formal alliance. The Treaty of Alliance with France was signed in February 1778.
Saratoga was strategically important, but it did not end the war. Fighting continued for years, and the decisive later campaign was Yorktown in 1781. The battle is also sometimes described as a turning point because of its diplomatic consequences.