Allies Enter the War

The American Revolution was well received on France. The United States lack of arms and allies, French saw this as an opportunity to defeat the British Empire. Benjamin Franklin went to Paris to negotiate an alliance between this two.

At first the French were permitted and started sending secretly ammunition and gunpowder, for close to a million pounds. This aid given by France helped George Washington’s survival against the British in 1776 and 1777. French Ports received American ships that acted against British merchant ships.

The British had taken over Philadelphia in 1777. But American victory at the battle of Saratoga had brought back hope to them and to the French, after this France started realizing that American could win the war.

France formally recognized the United States on February 6, 1778 with the signing of the Treaty of Alliance. This alliance would produce the biggest victory in 1781.