Why did France and Spain decide to help the United States?

the united states borrowed large sums of money and promise to pay them back after the war was won
They hoped to win back. Land in North America lost to Great Britain previously.
The victory at Saratoga showed them that the United States could defeat Great Britain.
They wanted to establish new colonies in North America and build strong relations with the United States.

1 answer

France and Spain decided to help the United States primarily because the victory at Saratoga showed them that the United States could potentially defeat Great Britain. The success at Saratoga in 1777 was a turning point in the American Revolutionary War, demonstrating that the American forces could win significant battles against the British and that there was a possibility for American independence. This encouraged France and Spain to support the American cause, as they were both interested in undermining British power and influence.

Additionally, France sought revenge against Britain for its losses in previous conflicts and was motivated by the idea of weakening a longstanding rival. Spain also had territorial interests and aspirations of reclaiming lands lost to Britain. Overall, the potential for success of the American Revolution and the opportunity to challenge British dominance were key factors that led France and Spain to provide assistance to the United States.