The Siege of Yorktown in 1781 marked the epic finale of the American Revolutionary War. This historic face-off saw General Washington whip out his ultimate chess move, trapping Lord Cornwallis's redcoats between a rock and a hard place (a.k.a. land and sea) with a hefty helping hand from the French. And when we say hefty, we mean the French forces rolled in deep, outnumbering the Americans. Together, they bombarded the British with artillery as they tightened the noose.

Approximately 8,000 British troops were captured at Yorktown, and after weeks of relentless pressure, Cornwallis had no choice but to wave the white flag. The British surrender at Yorktown effectively sealed the deal on America's independence, setting the stage for the Treaty of Paris and the end of colonial rule.

‍