Final answer:
The Battle of Saratoga was instrumental in gaining French support for the American Revolution, which increased morale and military assistance, leading to turning the tide of the war in favor of the American cause.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Battle of Saratoga was a pivotal point in the American Revolution. One of the major developments was the plan by British Major General John Burgoyne to invade New England from Canada, aiming to isolate New England from the other colonies. However, he was defeated by American forces under Major General Horatio Gates and Brigadier General Benedict Arnold. The American victory boosted morale across the colonies and played a key role in gaining the support of France, who, after Saratoga, recognized American independence and formed a military alliance with the revolutionaries. The French involvement provided the United States with soldiers, naval forces, gunpowder, money, and military leaders like the Marquis de Lafayette, turning the tide of the war by distracting British efforts from the independent American states to other global arenas, such as the West Indies and Europe.