After the Battle of Saratoga, France recognized the United States as a nation. How did this help the war effort?
1 Answer
It recognized America at that point as a sovereign nation.
Explanation:
Not just France, but the world viewed the American colonies as a part of Great Britain. For their part the American revolutionaries signed off on the Declaration of Independence. America stated from July 4, 1776 onward it would be a sovereign nation. But with a war still to fight, the rest of the world was not convinced. To aid the American revolutionaries meant you were defying the power of the King of England and Great Britain's claim to all of English North America.
Benjamin Franklin had been in France begging for capital and other sorts of aid but the King was reticent. France needed to feel secure that its helping the new country, America, it would not bring the wrath of England upon it.
France did send guns and money but they also sent someone even more important to George Washington in his efforts to defeat England. They sent Lafayette who help hugely in bringing order to the American citizen soldiers.
