Which Revolutionary War battles in 1777 persuaded France to enter the conflict as an American ally?

The Battles of Saratoga in 1777 persuaded France to enter the Revolutionary War as an American ally.

The Battles of Saratoga were fought near Saratoga, New York, on September 19 and October 7, 1777. The American forces were commanded by General Horatio Gates, while British forces were led by General John Burgoyne. The second battle ended with Burgoyne’s surrender on October 17.

Saratoga was a major strategic victory because it demonstrated that the American army could defeat a large British force. The result encouraged France to provide open military support to the United States. The Franco-American alliance was formalized in 1778, bringing French troops, naval power, supplies, and financial assistance into the war.

The name can be confusing because Saratoga refers to two connected battles and also to the wider Saratoga campaign. The campaign included other actions, including the Battle of Bennington, but the Battles of Saratoga specifically refer to the engagements of September 19 and October 7. Historians commonly describe the American victory as a major turning point in the war.