17. Battle of Yorktown (1781)
In October 1781, the fields of Yorktown, Virginia, witnessed a decisive confrontation that would forever alter the trajectory of American history. With the combined strength of American forces under General George Washington and French troops led by General Rochambeau, British General Charles Cornwallis found himself trapped, both on land and at sea. After weeks of siege and bombardment, Cornwallis surrendered his army, effectively ending major hostilities in the Revolutionary War. The victory at Yorktown marked a monumental triumph, paving the way for formal British recognition of American independence and laying the foundation for a new nation.
