What significant effect did the American victory at Yorktown have on the war?

The victory at Yorktown was pivotal because it directly influenced the British Parliament to consider negotiating peace. This decisive encounter effectively ended the major combat operations in the American Revolutionary War. With General Cornwallis's surrender, it became evident that Britain could not sustain its efforts to quell the rebellion in the colonies. The military defeat significantly shifted the political landscape in Britain, leading to an acknowledgment that a peaceful resolution was necessary. This ultimately paved the way for the Treaty of Paris in 1783, formally ending the war and recognizing American independence.