The Siege of Yorktown was a critical confrontation during the American Revolutionary War. After successive defeats and dwindling resources, British General Charles Cornwallis established his forces at Yorktown, Virginia, in the summer of 1781. Recognizing the vulnerability of his position, American General George Washington took advantage of the situation by coordinating a siege with French forces under General Rochambeau. The combined siege maneuvered to block supplies and reinforcements, culminating in the entrapment of Cornwallis's troops. Over the course of the siege, Cornwallis found himself increasingly isolated, with French naval support preventing escape by sea. On October 17, surrender negotiations commenced, leading to Cornwallis’s formal capitulation a day later.

The surrender at Yorktown was monumental for American forces, symbolizing a pivotal turning point in the fight for independence. The formal surrender ceremony took place on October 19, when Cornwallis, shame-faced, did not even attend the event, instead sending his subordinates to deliver the formalities. This act was met with celebratory cheers by the American and French troops, solidifying a rare moment of unity and cooperation between the two allied forces. The victory at Yorktown effectively halted large-scale military operations in America, leading to peace negotiations over the following years.