Why Did France Help In The American Revolutionary War?

Let’s learn four main causes why the Empire of France helped the American colonists in the Revolutionary War.

Overview of the four causes:

1. France and Great Britain were cutthroat enemies. They were in a rivalry to dominate the entire world.

2. French Empire wanted to take revenge on the British Empire for its defeat in the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763). The defeat was so ugly for France that it led them to lose all the colonies in the Americas.

3. France still hoped to gain the old territories in the Americas that they lost during the Seven Years’ War.

4. French king Louis XVI wanted to regain the glory of the French Empire. Because the defeat in the Seven Years’ War created a negative impression on the old glorious state. King Louis XVI wanted to take revenge on Great Britain.

4 Reasons Why France Helped Colonists In The American Revolutionary War

1. France And Great Britain Were Enemies

France and Britain were staunch enemies. For thousands of years, they had been fighting many battles. In the late 17th century, their hostility intensified.

At that time, in 1689 they were involved in the Second Hundred Years’ War. Many historians consider this war as the beginning point of their staunch enmity, which lasted till 1815.

On the other hand, France and Great Britain were the two most powerful (superpowers) nations in the world. So there was always a struggle between them to make themselves better than each other.

This was the first reason France favored the rebels during the American War of Independence.

Because the enemy’s enemy is a friend.

[Did You Know? The French Empire Directly Entered In Armed Conflict In The American Revolutionary War In 1778. However, The Conflict Already Began In 1775]

2. France Wanted To Take Revenge For The Defeat In The Seven Years’ War

A few years before the American Revolution, Britain and France fought a major war, in which France faced heavy defeat.

This war was the Seven Years’ War (1756-1763). As a result of this conflict, France lost all its colonies on the American continent. 

But whatever happened, they never forget and were still seeking a better opportunity to take revenge on Britain.

When the Revolutionary War began, French King Louis XVI openly provided support to the rebels.

Many historians consider the defeat of France in the Seven Years’ War was the main reason for their involvement in the American Revolution.

[Did You Know? The Second Continental Congress Appointed Three Diplomats And Send Them To France For Requesting Help From King Louis XVI. Those Diplomats Were Benjamin Franklin, Arther Lee, And Silas Deane. On February 6th, 1778, They Signed The Treaty of Amity, The Treaty of Alliance, And The Treaty of Commerce With The French Empire]

3. France Still Hoped To Gain The Old Territories That They Lost During The Seven Years’ War

Although, France supported American rebels against the British Red Coats; but still, they had greed for gaining the old territories that they lost during the Seven Years’ War.

Perhaps, they were imagining that after driving Britain away from the American colonies, they would come back and take control.

However, it never became reality because the Revolutionary War completely broke its economy’s spine.

On top of that, they had to take debts of over 1 billion livres. On the other hand, the bell of the inevitable France revolution also started plucking.

So, entering again into more wars was beyond their imagination. In short, King Louis XVI had to involve in solving their internal issues.

[Did You Know? Before The Seven Years’ War, France Controlled A Large Area of North America; Such As Canada, Louisiana, Etc. But Once, They Faced Defeat And Had To Sign The Treaties of Paris And Hubertusburg In February 1763, They Lost All Their Control From The Continent]

4. To Regain The Old Glory of The French Empire

The French empire contained a large land area that extended into America, Asia, and Africa.

At that time, they had many colonies on these continents. For these reasons, they had a special glory in the world.

But because of the defeat in the Seven Years’ War against Great Britain, somehow this glory got badly shocked.

King Louis XVI was afraid that it would encourage other European expansionist powers to raise their heads against his empire.

Therefore, in case of showing their power and regaining the old glory, they were involved in the American Revolutionary War. Also, the war was a great opportunity for them to take revenge on Great Britain. 

[Did You Know? Although, King Louis XVI Succeeded In His Intention of Joining The Revolutionary War For America’s Independence; But Just After A Few Years, Revolution Broke Out In His Own Nation. Even The Revolution Proved Completely Against Louis’s Interests That He Had To Lose His Life]