October 1777Reputable sourceWell documented
The Battle of Saratoga
On the timeline · around October 1777 ·
What happened
In the autumn of 1777 American forces halted and surrounded a British army under General John Burgoyne in upstate New York. On 17 October 1777 Burgoyne surrendered his entire force — the first surrender of a British army in the war.
Why it matters
Saratoga is regarded as the turning point of the Revolution: the stunning American victory convinced France to enter the war as an ally.
Sources
- National Park Service. Saratoga: The Tide Turns on the Frontier · Reputable source