For America250, France’s 1778 alliance with the United States was the Treaty of Alliance.
The treaty was signed in Paris on February 6, 1778, alongside the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. France formally recognized the United States and promised military support in its war against Great Britain.
The alliance grew from France’s interest in weakening its longtime rival after the British defeat at Saratoga. French aid included money, weapons, troops, and naval support. French military cooperation became especially important during the later stages of the war.
The Treaty of Alliance also required the United States not to make a separate peace with Britain. The agreement ended as a practical wartime alliance after the Treaty of Paris in 1783. It should not be confused with the Treaty of Paris, which recognized American independence and ended the war.