The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777 helped persuade France to openly support the Revolutionary War.
The Saratoga campaign ended with British General John Burgoyne surrendering his army to American forces under General Horatio Gates on October 17, 1777. The victory demonstrated that the Continental Army could defeat a major British force, rather than merely conduct scattered resistance.
France had already provided secret assistance, including weapons and supplies. Saratoga changed its calculation about the likely outcome of the conflict. In February 1778, France signed the Treaty of Alliance and Treaty of Amity and Commerce with the United States. French military and naval support later became central to the Yorktown campaign.
Saratoga is often described as a single battle, but historians also use the term for a campaign in northern New York that included several engagements. The final surrender occurred at Saratoga, while earlier fighting included the battles of Freeman's Farm and Bemis Heights. This distinction explains why accounts sometimes give several dates and locations when discussing Saratoga.