Answer:
The Battle of Saratoga in September 1777 was considered a decisive military victory for the patriot cause because it was the first major defeat of a British army in the war and it convinced France to enter the war as an ally of the United States. The British general John Burgoyne had planned to march from Canada to Albany, New York, and join forces with other British troops to isolate and crush the New England colonies. However, he faced strong resistance from the Continental Army led by Horatio Gates and Benedict Arnold, as well as local militia and sharpshooters. In two battles fought near Saratoga, Burgoyne lost many of his men and was forced to surrender his entire army of over 6,000 soldiers on October 17. This stunning victory boosted the morale of the Americans and impressed the French, who had been secretly aiding the rebels since 1776. The French decided to openly support the American cause by signing a treaty of alliance in February 1778 and sending troops, ships, and supplies to help fight the British. The Battle of Saratoga thus turned the tide of the war in favor of the Americans and paved the way for their eventual independence.
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