Final answer:
The Battle of Yorktown is considered the most significant Revolutionary War battle leading to American independence, marking the end of major hostilities and leading to the Treaty of Paris and recognition of the United States' independence.
Step-by-step explanation:
Most Significant Revolutionary War Battle Leading to American Independence
The most significant battle in the American Revolutionary War that led to American independence was the Battle of Yorktown. This battle marked the culmination of a series of encounters between British and American forces. The British Southern Strategy had failed to quell the rebellion, and despite several victories, the British forces under Lord Cornwallis were cornered in Yorktown, Virginia. The prolonged siege by American and French forces proved too much for the British, and they ultimately surrendered. This surrender effectively ended British hopes of regaining control of the colonies and paved the way for American independence.
Other notable battles such as Lexington and Concord, known as the "shot heard around the world," also played significant roles by igniting the war and rallying colonial support. However, the decisive victory at Yorktown in 1781, boosted by French military support, was the pivotal moment leading to the cessation of major hostilities and the eventual signing of the Treaty of Paris, which acknowledged the United States as a free and independent nation.