The Battle of Yorktown took place from September 28 to October 19, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War. It was a decisive conflict where the combined forces of the Continental Army, led by General George Washington, and the French Army, commanded by General Rochambeau, besieged the British troops under General Cornwallis. This battle marked the last major engagement of the war. The siege resulted in the surrender of Cornwallis and his army, effectively ending British efforts to regain control over the American colonies. The victory at Yorktown boosted American morale and paved the way for negotiations that ultimately led to the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783.