Table of Contents
What convinced the French to support the American Revolution?
Franklin’s popularity, persuasive powers, and a key American battlefield victory were crucial factors that led France to join the war in 1778. France had suffered bitter defeat in the most recent conflict, the Seven Years’ War (1756-63), which included the French and Indian War in North America.
Who convinced France to help America?
On February 6, 1778, Benjamin Franklin and the other two commissioners, Arthur Lee and Silas Deane, signed a Treaty of Alliance and a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with France.
Did the US support France against Britain?
President George Washington (responding to advice from both Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson) recognized the French government, but did not support France in the war with Britain, as expressed in his 1793 Proclamation of Neutrality. The proclamation was issued and declared without Congressional approval.
How much did the French help the American Revolution?
Ultimately, France provided about 1.3 billion livres of desperately-needed money and goods to support the rebels.
Why did the French Revolution lose support in the United States?
Radical Ideologies The French Revolution lost some U.S. support when French citizens migrated to the United States to escape their war-torn country. Many refugees started their own newspapers and propaganda campaigns, encouraging Americans to support their radical ideas and political agendas.
How did France get involved in the Revolutionary War?
Saratoga Leads to Full Alliance. In December 1777, news reached France of the British surrender at Saratoga, a victory that convinced the French to make a full alliance with the revolutionaries and to enter the war with troops.
How did France help the new United States?
A rage for all things Franklin and American swept France, assisting American diplomats and Vergennes in pushing for an alliance. In the meantime, Vergennes agreed to provide the United States with a secret loan. Despite the loan and discussions of a full alliance, French assistance to the new United States was limited at the outset.
What did the colonists hope for in France?
American colonists hoped for possible French aid in their struggle against British forces. The Continental Congress established the Secret Committee of Correspondence to publicize the American cause in Europe. Committee member Benjamin Franklin wrote to contacts in France with encouraging accounts of colonial resistance.
Why did the French and the British fight in the 1770s?
As the French and the British continued to vie for power in the 1770s, French officials saw an opportunity in the rebellion of Britain’s North American colonies to take advantage of British troubles.