On this day in 1777, the Kingdom of France officially said “oui oui” to the question of whether the 13 North American colonies in rebellion from Great Britain were their own nation. The formal recognition followed a devastating defeat for the British in the Battle of Saratoga. The French spied an opportunity for revenge against their longtime geopolitical foe across the English Channel after losing their North American colonies in the Seven Years War.
French assistance first came in 1776 when fur-capped Benjamin Franklin showed up trying to convince them that American independence was a worthy cause, but after Saratoga there was no longer need for subterfuge. King Louis XVI openly backed the rebellion, and by early 1778, France and the U.S. were officially allies.
You can learn more about the role of France in the War of Independence at the website of the Museum of the American Revolution.
