<Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Part of the American Revolutionary War </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Surrender of Lord Cornwallis by John Trumbull, depicts the British surrendering to Benjamin Lincoln, flanked by French (left) and American troops . Oil on canvas, 1820 . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Date </Th> <Td> September 28--October 19, 1781 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Location </Th> <Td> Yorktown, Virginia 37 ° 14 ′ 21" N 76 ° 30 ′ 38" W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.239301 ° N 76.510692 ° W ﻿ / 37.239301; - 76.510692 Coordinates: 37 ° 14 ′ 21" N 76 ° 30 ′ 38" W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.239301 ° N 76.510692 ° W ﻿ / 37.239301; - 76.510692 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Result </Th> <Td> <P> Decisive Franco - American victory </P> <Ul> <Li> End of major land operations in North America </Li> <Li> Beginning of peace negotiations </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table> </Td> </Tr> <Table> <Tr> <Th> Date </Th> <Td> September 28--October 19, 1781 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Location </Th> <Td> Yorktown, Virginia 37 ° 14 ′ 21" N 76 ° 30 ′ 38" W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.239301 ° N 76.510692 ° W ﻿ / 37.239301; - 76.510692 Coordinates: 37 ° 14 ′ 21" N 76 ° 30 ′ 38" W ﻿ / ﻿ 37.239301 ° N 76.510692 ° W ﻿ / 37.239301; - 76.510692 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Result </Th> <Td> <P> Decisive Franco - American victory </P> <Ul> <Li> End of major land operations in North America </Li> <Li> Beginning of peace negotiations </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> </Table>

What role did the french play in the patriot victory at yorktown