What was the significance of the Battle of Yorktown (1781)?

• A. It was the last major battle of the American Revolution, prompting negotiation to end the conflict
• B. It secured American independence by victory on the battlefield
• C. It led to the drafting of the Articles of Confederation
• D. It marked the start of the War of 1812

Answer: (A)

Yorktown is recognized as the final major land battle of the American Revolution, and its outcome helped push Britain toward formal negotiations to end the war. In 1781, American forces led by Washington, with a decisive French naval presence, trapped Cornwallis at Yorktown and forced his surrender. While fighting continued in other areas for a time, the victory signaled that continued resistance would be costly for Britain and opened the door to peace talks that produced the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which acknowledged American independence. So the significance lies in linking a decisive military win to the move toward a diplomatic settlement that officially ends the conflict. The other options miss that essential sequence: independence was formalized through the peace treaty, not by a single battlefield victory; the Articles of Confederation were drafted earlier and not caused by Yorktown; and the War of 1812 began long after.