Treaty of Alliance (1778)

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The Treaty of Alliance (1778) was a formal military pact between France and the United States during the American Revolutionary War, marking France’s entry into the conflict against Britain and significantly bolstering the American cause.


Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf bilateral treaty
international treaty
military alliance
alsoKnownAs Franco-American Alliance
clause French conquests in the West Indies to belong to France
all conquests in North America to belong to the United States
neither party would make a separate peace with Great Britain
countryOfOrigin France
United States of America
duringConflict American Revolutionary War
effect formal entry of France into the American Revolutionary War
international recognition of the United States
significant increase in American military and naval support
enteredIntoForce 1778
followedBy Convention of 1800
hasSubject Franco-American relations
diplomatic history of the American Revolution
historicalPeriod Age of Revolution
influencedBy American victory at the Battle of Saratoga
language English
French
legalStatusAfterTermination annulled
linkedTreaty Treaty of Amity and Commerce (1778)
locationCountry France
negotiatedBy Arthur Lee
Benjamin Franklin
Silas Deane
obligation France to provide military support to the United States if war broke out between France and Great Britain
United States to support France in case of war with Great Britain following French entry
opposedTo Kingdom of Great Britain
party Kingdom of France
United States of America
precededBy Treaty of Amity and Commerce (1778)
purpose to establish a defensive alliance between France and the United States against Great Britain
to guarantee American independence from Great Britain
ratificationDate 1778-05-04
ratifiedBy Continental Congress
France
signedAt France
signedBy Arthur Lee
Benjamin Franklin
Conrad Alexandre Gérard
Silas Deane
signedIn Paris
signedUnderMonarch Louis XVI of France
signingDate 1778-02-06
terminatedBy Convention of 1800
terminationDate 1800


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