What was the name of the 1778 defensive alliance between revolutionary America and France?

The Treaty of Alliance (1778) was the defensive pact between revolutionary America and France during the American Revolutionary War. The two countries signed it in Paris on February 6, 1778.

Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee, and Silas Deane signed for the United States, while Conrad Alexandre Gérard signed for France. The treaty promised military cooperation if Britain attacked France and established conditions for coordinating the war against Britain.

The alliance followed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which formalized commercial relations and French recognition of American sovereignty. France’s entry into the war brought soldiers, ships, weapons, and financial support to the American cause. French assistance was especially important during the Yorktown campaign, where French troops and naval forces helped force the British surrender.