France Step In!
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Even though these countries all helped in the American Revolution fighting on the colonial side most say we wouldn’t have won the war without the help of the French. “France had been secretly aiding the American Colonies since 1776, because France was angry at Britain over the loss of Colonial territory in the French and Indian War.” However in 1776, the Continental Congress sent Benjamin Franklin, along with Silas Deane and Arthur Lee, to France to sign for a legitimate alliance. France aided the colonists by providing military armaments and loans. France's support grew stronger after the Americans beat the British on October 1777 in the Battle of Saratoga. By doing this they then proved themselves committed to independence and were worthy of a formal alliance. “King Louis XVI approved financial assistance to the American colonists only four days after Franklin and his comrades requested it.” During the war, France sent around 12,000 soldiers and 32,000 sailors to assist the Americans in the war, the most famous of them was the Marquis of Lafayette. He and General George Washington became good friends in the process. Americans almost lost the war numerous times losing troops, battles, lost hope, and little enlist count. However with our great General and soon to be first president of the time, George Washington and his efforts to never give up on his dream of freedom, we won the war, the British had lost hope and money for the cause.