Which 1778 treaty formalized the wartime alliance between the United States and France during the Revolution?

The Treaty of Alliance (1778) formalized the wartime alliance between the United States and France during the Revolution.

The treaty was signed in Paris on February 6, 1778, alongside the Treaty of Amity and Commerce. It committed France to support the United States if Britain attacked French interests because of the alliance. The agreement also promised that neither party would make peace with Britain without the other’s consent.

France had already been providing covert aid to the American cause, including arms and supplies. The alliance made French assistance official and brought France openly into the war against Britain. French military and naval support later proved crucial during the Yorktown campaign.

The treaty included a significant condition: the United States promised not to claim territories held by France in the Americas. The alliance ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which concluded the Revolutionary War.