Final answer:
On October 19, 1781, General George Washington and his combined American and French forces compelled the surrender of British troops under General Cornwallis at Yorktown, Virginia, marking a crucial victory in the American Revolutionary War.
Step-by-step explanation:
Significance of October 19, 1781
On October 19, 1781, a pivotal event in American history took place in Yorktown, Virginia. The American forces, led by General George Washington, and French allies completed an eight-day siege against British forces under the command of Lieutenant General Lord William Cornwallis. The conclusion of the siege marked the surrender of Cornwallis and signalled a decisive turning point in the American Revolutionary War.
The American force comprised 11,133 troops and was bolstered by the addition of 7,800 French soldiers. Their combined efforts resulted in encircling the British, cutting off their escape routes, and bombarding their defenses until Cornwallis had no choice but to surrender.
This victory at Yorktown effectively brought an end to major military engagements in the colonies and paved the way for negotiations that would culminate in the Treaty of Paris and the recognition of American independence.
It is reported that during the surrender ceremony, the British band played a tune entitled "The World Turned Upside Down", which symbolically underscored the monumental upset and the end of British colonial rule over the American colonies.