Which 1777 battles became a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War?

The Battles of Saratoga became a major turning point in the American Revolutionary War after an American victory forced a British army to surrender in 1777.

The campaign consisted chiefly of two engagements near Saratoga, New York: the Battle of Freeman’s Farm on September 19 and the Battle of Bemis Heights on October 7. British General John Burgoyne led an invasion intended to divide New England from the middle and southern colonies. American forces were commanded by General Horatio Gates, with important battlefield leadership from Benedict Arnold and Daniel Morgan.

Burgoyne surrendered his army at Saratoga on October 17, 1777. The victory demonstrated that the Continental forces could defeat a major British field army and encouraged France to enter the war openly as an American ally in 1778.

Saratoga is often called the war’s turning point, although the conflict continued for several years. The later American victory at Yorktown in 1781 led to the peace negotiations that produced the Treaty of Paris.