Though the Revolutionary War didn't officially end until September 1783 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris, a key turning point in the war for independence occurred six years earlier in a small corner of today's New York state.

The Battle of Saratoga stretched out from September 19 until October 7, 1777, and marked the first time the British Empire had been forced to surrender. British General John Burgoyne had stretched his forces too thin in marching down from Canada with the intent of capturing Albany and wound up with huge losses in his army of nearly 7,000.

His defeat at the hands of Major General Horatio Gates and General Benedict Arnold greatly raised American hopes to gain independence and convinced France to come to the colonials' aid.

The story of how the British surrender came about is told at Saratoga National Historical Park near today's Stillwater, New York. To help us better understand the battles, we're joined today by Lauren Roberts, the historian at Saratoga County, New York, and Traveler Contributing Editor Kim O'Connell, who recently visited the historical park.