Which 1781 siege became the decisive victory of the American Revolutionary War?

The 1781 Siege of Yorktown became the decisive victory of the American Revolutionary War.

American forces commanded by George Washington joined French troops led by the Comte de Rochambeau, while a French fleet helped prevent British reinforcement or escape by sea. They surrounded the British army commanded by General Charles Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia.

After a sustained siege and artillery bombardment, Cornwallis surrendered on October 19, 1781. Fighting did not end immediately across the world, but the defeat weakened Britain’s political support for continuing the war in North America.

Yorktown is often called the war’s last major battle, although smaller military actions and negotiations continued afterward. The conflict formally ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, when Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States.