102 ChApTEr 4 | an atlantiC eMpire | period three 175 4 –18 0 0toPIc II
Document 4.9 Treaty of Alliance between the United States
and France
1778The alliance between France and the United States forced Great Britain to face the pros-
pect of a worldwide war with France over its colonial holdings. It also offered the United
States international recognition and material and military support, which culminated in the
American victory at the Siege of Yorktown (1781) with the assistance of the French fleet.The most Christian king and the United States of North-America,... for the
reciprocal advantage of their subjects and citizens, have thought it necessary to
take into consideration the means of strengthening those engagements, and of
rendering them useful to the safety and tranquillity of the two parties.... [H]is
majesty and the said United States having resolved in that case to join their coun-
cils and efforts against the enterprizes of their common enemy,... have, after the
most mature deliberation, concluded and determined on the following articles:Art. 1. If war should break out between France and Great-Britain, during the
continuance of the present war between the United States and England, his maj-
esty and the said United States, shall make it a common cause, and aid each other
mutually with their good offices, their counsels and their forces,... as becomes
good and faithful allies.
Art. 2. The essential and direct end of the present defensive alliance, is, to
maintain effectually the liberty, sovereignty and independence, absolute and
unlimited, of the said United States, as well in matters of government as of
commerce.
Art. 3. The two contracting parties shall, each on its own part, and in the
manner it may judge most proper, make all the efforts in its power against their
common enemy, in order to attain the end proposed.Journals of the American Congress: From 1774 to 1788, vol. 3 (Washington, DC: Way and
Gideon, 1823), 485–486.Entangling Alliances
prACTICIng historical Thinking
Identify: According to the French, why are they creating this alliance with the
United States?05_STA_2012_ch4_085-114.indd 102 26/03/15 10:11 AM