French Alliance

The French government helped the Americans by sending gunpowder, artillery, and muskets. *Then, in 1776, the Americans sent Benjamin Franklin to France as an influential diplomat. In his fur cap and homespun coat, he became a favorite with both aristocrats and the ordinary people. * As a result of Saratoga and Franklin’s diplomatic skills, France soon signed two treaties: One formally recognized the United States as a nation. The other promised military help. In 1780, France sent a 6,000-soldier army to help the Americans fight the British.