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The French helped America win independence from Britain. This was very beneficial to the new country, but it didn't quite work out the way that France intended. The French helped America because they hoped to weaken the British Empire. In addition, the French had hoped that the rising power of the United States would side with France on the world stage.

France sent troops to help the American Revolutionary troops. Benjamin Franklin was instrumental in gaining French support for the American Revolution. France began helping in 1778. The importance of France to America is shown by the Treaty of Paris in 1783. Paris was the site of negotiations between America and Britain for ending the Revolutionary War.

Before the French began openly helping the Americans, they were involved in secret sales of weapons. The French government sold the rebels weapons through private companies in Portugal. The sales and support were secret. The French were the ones that provided the Revolutionary War with its weapons to fight against the British. These weapons were responsible for George Washington's success against the British soldiers.

Once the American colonies showed that they could be win the war, France signed on as an official supporter. At first, the French were only providing naval support. From the first, the British and French battled at sea. Britain tried to keep France busy in the English Channel and away from America. Then in 1780, France sent Rochambeau with 6,000 ground troops. Rochambeau placed himself under the command of American forces and supported them with advice, but accepted commands from George Washington.

While the assistance of the French with troops was limited in nature, the French were instrumental in winning the war. They provided black market weapons that the Americans. In addition, they fought naval battles with the British around the world in support of the American Revolutions and their own desires to be a world power.

Learn more about this author, Mary Paliescheskey.
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