The siege of Yorktown was a critical engagement in the American Revolutionary War, representing the climax of the longest and most complex military engagement of the conflict. In 1781, American forces, commanded by General George Washington, joined by French troops under the leadership of General Rochambeau, mounted an effective siege against the British, who were led by General Charles Cornwallis. The siege began in late September when Washington and Rochambeau marched their armies to Virginia to confront Cornwallis, who had moved his troops to Yorktown, believing he could be resupplied by the Royal Navy. However, the French fleet successfully blockaded the Chesapeake Bay, cutting off any potential aid from the British navy.

As the siege progressed, Washington's forces, bolstered by French troops, encircled Yorktown, establishing artillery positions that were used to bombard the British defenses. Over the course of several weeks, artillery and siege works wore down Cornwallis’s forces, who faced shortages of supplies and reinforcements. The situation became increasingly dire for the British as American forces steadily advanced, forcing Cornwallis to seek terms of surrender. On October 19th, 1781, Cornwallis formally surrendered, marking the end of major fighting in the American Revolutionary War.

The surrender at Yorktown was pivotal not just militarily, but also politically. It sparked calls for peace in Great Britain and significantly altered the dynamics of negotiations between the American colonies and the British government, leading to eventual peace talks. The impact of this victory reverberated through the colonies and helped galvanize support for independence, ultimately leading to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.