General George Washington led the American Revolutionary forces during the Siege of Yorktown in 1781. This siege was a decisive moment in the American Revolution, as Washington coordinated a strategic assault against the British forces led by General Cornwallis. With the assistance of the French fleet and troops under General Rochambeau, Washington's forces effectively encircled Cornwallis, forcing him to surrender. This victory not only marked the end of major military operations in the colonies but also signified a turning point that led to negotiations for American independence, culminating in the Treaty of Paris in 1783.