The above picture shows French forces arriving in Newport
The Treaty of Alliance
The treaty of alliance was a defensive agreement between France and the United states. It said that if Britain declared war on one of them, they would work together to defeat them. It also specified land claims for after the war, basically giving the U.S. all conquered territory in North America, while reserving land in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean for France. It also said that neither could make peace without each others consent. It allowed other nations to join it in hopes of enticing Spain to join the war.
I think The Treaty of Alliance was important because it gave the U.S. a lot of military support, and would have made the revolution seem more significant (Imagine if we were at war with Russia over Afghanistan). It also forced the British to defend other colonies against the French, reducing their manpower in North America. The French navy was also critical in several battles, such as Yorktown. Overall, this treaty was instrumental in helping America win the war.
http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=FA0F11FE3A591B728DDDA10994DD405B828CF1D3
An article/essay about the treaty of Alliance and French involvement.
An article/essay about the treaty of Alliance and French involvement.