What event signaled the end of the Revolutionary War?

The event that signaled the end of the Revolutionary War is General Cornwallis's surrender. This significant moment occurred on October 19, 1781, at the Battle of Yorktown. Cornwallis, leading British forces, was besieged by American and French troops, marking a decisive victory for the Continental Army. His surrender effectively crippled British military efforts in America and demonstrated that the American forces could defeat a major British army. While the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 formally concluded the war and recognized American independence, it was the military defeat of Cornwallis that served as the turning point, leading to negotiations for peace. Other options, like the Valley Forge winter and the Declaration of Independence, represent important historical events but do not directly signify the war's conclusion. Valley Forge was a challenging winter that tested the Continental Army, and the Declaration of Independence was a crucial statement of intention that preceded the war rather than marking its end.