Which 1778 treaty formalized France’s military alliance with the United States during the Revolution celebrated by America250?

The Treaty of Alliance (1778) formalized France’s military alliance with the United States during the American Revolutionary War.

The treaty was signed in Paris on February 6, 1778, by French representatives and commissioners of the Second Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin, Arthur Lee, and Silas Deane signed for the United States, while Conrad Alexandre Gérard signed for France. The agreement promised French military support if Britain attacked France because of its relationship with the United States.

The alliance followed the American victory at Saratoga in October 1777, which convinced France that the revolutionary cause had a serious chance of success. French money, weapons, troops, and naval forces later played a major role in the campaign that led to the British surrender at Yorktown.

The treaty was signed alongside the Treaty of Amity and Commerce, which established commercial and diplomatic relations. These agreements are often collectively called the Franco-American Alliance, but only the Treaty of Alliance was the military pact.