How did France help determine the outcome of the American revolution?
1 Answer
France joined the war on the American side.
Explanation:
The Continental Congress tried for years to interest the French king in joining the war on the American side.
France and England were adversaries and had fought several wars, so the Americans though that France could be drawn into the war just to hurt England. However, until 1778 the French restricted themselves to shipping arms, equipment and supplies to the colonists. After the American victory at the battle of Saratoga, the French realized the Americans could actually win and recognized the new country.
The final action of the war was the siege of Yorktown in 1781. The French, under Lafayette, was a major component of the forces surrounding the British forces. The French fleet defeated the British at the mouth of the Chesapeake and prevented them relieving and reinforcing the British. This forced the British army to surrender when they ran out of supplies.
Following the victory at Yorktown, peace was negotiated with Britain and finally signed in 1783.
