1. Lesson 8
Bellringer: What is an alliance?

2. What is an Alliance?
• France and Great Britain were allies during WWI and
WWII
• Allies in NATO during ColdWar
• Do you think France allied with America or Great
Britain? Why?

3. International War
– From 1776, France had been informally involved in
the American Revolutionary War; supplying the
Americans with supplies, guns, and ammunition
• Thomas Jefferson encouraged this alliance
• France wanted to use this opportunity to contest British
power, but wanted to avoid an all out war with Great
Britain
• French guns and ammunition were crucial during the
Battle of Saratoga

4. Official Alliance
– After learning of the American victory at Saratoga,
France signed the Treaty of Alliance with the
United States on February 6, 1778, formalizing the
Franco-American alliance negotiated by Benjamin
Franklin.
– Treaty of Alliance required that neither France nor
the United States agree to a separate peace with
Great Britain, and that American independence be
a condition of any future peace agreement.

5. Alliance with Spain
– Spain was also providing aid to the Americans as
a way to hurt Great Britain following the Seven
Year’s War
– In 1776 the Count of Aranda met in
representation of Spain with the first U.S.
Commission composed by Benjamin Franklin, Silas
Deane and Arthur Lee
• The Americans hoped Spain could help end the British
naval blockade around the colonies
• Spain still did not declare an open alliance

6. Alliance with Spain
– Spain finally entered officially the war in June
1779
• The Treaty of Aranjuez was signed on April 12, 1779
between France and Spain.
• France agreed to aid in the capture of Gibraltar, the
Floridas, and the island of Minorca.
• In return, the Spanish agreed to join in France’s war
against Great Britain. Based on the terms of the
treaty, Spain joined the American War of Independence
against Britain

7. Dutch Alliance
• The Dutch Republic, which was formally brought into
the war at the end of 1780

8. Treaty of Alliance
• Read
• What did it say? How is it different from the Treaty of
Aranjuez?

9. BIG QUESTION
– Why did France ally with the colonists?
– Why did Spain help them as well?

10. France
– French supported the Americans not only to get back
at the British, but because the American Revolution
was the embodiment of the Enlightenment
– King Louis was wary of supporting people who were
rebelling against their monarchy
– American Revolution inspired the French
– Read article “French Revolution: An Overview”
• Compare/contrast to American Revolution
• Do you think it was a good idea for the French king to aid the
Americans?
• How large a role do you think the foreign aid played in the
American’s victory?

12. Textbook