153 The French Alliance ,1778

153.The French  Alliance ,1778

 Burgoyne's defeat made the French think that the Americans would win their in - dependence . So Dr . Franklin , who was at Paris , was told that France would rec - ognize the independence of the United States , would make treaties with the new nation , and give aid openly . Great Britain at once declared war on France . The French lent large sums of money to the United States . They sent large armies and splendid fleets to America . Their aid greatly shortened the struggle for inde - pendence . But the Americans would prob - ably have won without French aid .