The Battles of Saratoga are widely described as a Revolutionary War turning point because they helped bring France openly into the conflict.
The two major engagements occurred near Saratoga, New York, on September 19 and October 7, 1777. American forces ultimately forced British general John Burgoyne to surrender his army on October 17. The victory demonstrated that the American side could defeat a major British field force.
News of the victory encouraged France to formalize its support for the United States. France signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance with the United States on February 6, 1778. French money, weapons, troops, and naval power significantly expanded the war beyond the North American mainland.
People sometimes refer to a single “Battle of Saratoga,” but historians generally describe the campaign as a series that included the Battle of Freeman’s Farm and the Battle of Bemis Heights. The combined outcome, rather than one isolated clash, produced the diplomatic impact.