The Siege of Yorktown ended with the major British surrender that helped secure American victory in the Revolutionary War.
The siege took place in Virginia from September 28 to October 19, 1781. American forces led by George Washington and French forces led by the Comte de Rochambeau surrounded the British army commanded by Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis.
French naval control near the Chesapeake Bay helped prevent Cornwallis from escaping or receiving effective relief. Allied troops captured key outer defenses, brought artillery closer, and forced the British position to capitulate. More than 7,000 British and German troops were captured.
Yorktown did not instantly end every military operation. Fighting continued elsewhere, but the surrender changed the political situation in Britain and helped lead to peace negotiations. The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, formally recognizing American independence.