Hi there, I've heard that the french may have helped us in the past building our country and fighting against the Brits.
Is that really true or do the french lie once more ?
2007-02-08 00:32:57 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Military
Yes
During the revolution the French government loaned the "US" money to buy munitions and weapons, gave a couple ships, and money to finance the "US" government. In 1781 the French Fleet and about 8000 French soldiers in conjunction with the Forces of General Washington, launched a campaign in Virginia that ended with the battle of Yorktown, and the surrender of General Cornwallis and his army, which was the second British army (battle of Saratoga) to surrender to colonial forces. With this defeat and French actively supporting the US, Britain decided to end the war.
Without the help of the French the chances are that the United States would not have been formed. The British unable to defeat the Continental Army nor destroy the spirit of independence that had been birthed in 1776. Britain had tried to starve, and outlast the colonials, but with the support of the French that strategy had failed.
What is surprising is that it was the Government of the French King Louis XVI that supported the American Revolution, and it was this American Revolution that led to the French revolution which deposed the line of the French Kings forever.
2007-02-08 01:39:42 · answer #1 · answered by DeSaxe 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes, the French did help, mainly in the form of the Marquis de Lafayette. The Marquis was one of General Washington's dearest friends and most trusted advisers.
The French promised serious help for a long time in the form of troops and ships, but it never seemed to get here. Finally, FINALLY they showed up at the Battle of Yorktown, the final battle of the Revolution, and prevented the British from using their Navy to escape their seaside fortifications by blocking the harbor with their ships, and the redcoats were forced to surrender.
2007-02-08 09:42:41 · answer #2 · answered by kcbrez009 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is true. they also helps us indirectly by engaging in battle with Haiti when the slaves revolted against the French. This happened at the same time the US was looking to get the Louisiana Territory from the French. They were so pre-occupied with their war in Haiti that they practically give this land up to the US without a fight... they spread too thin.
2007-02-08 08:38:02 · answer #3 · answered by Ms. CityKitty 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The french were instrumental in aiding our defeat of the british in the Revolutionary War. Later to commemorate the victory they gave the U.S. the Statue of Liberty as a gift.
2007-02-08 08:43:34 · answer #4 · answered by Chris J 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋
No its definitely true . They were a world power back then and a staunch enemy of the British empire, who we supposedly won our independence from. .
2007-02-08 08:36:07 · answer #5 · answered by prole1984 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yeah... the French helped us to defeat the British in the Rev. War... and we fully repaid them by running those pesky Germans out of their pitiful country a few times... they always seem to forget about that...
2007-02-08 08:36:46 · answer #6 · answered by J-Rod on the Radio 4 · 3⤊ 4⤋
no, France did back the colonist against the British, but they showed up 8 months late and the war was all but over.
2007-02-08 08:36:36 · answer #7 · answered by 007 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Of course it's true. Don't take my word for it, just acquaint yourself with history!
2007-02-08 08:35:43 · answer #8 · answered by Philip Kiriakis 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes. But what have they done for us lately?
2007-02-08 08:39:49 · answer #9 · answered by Sally 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes they did,more than once
2007-02-08 08:37:23 · answer #10 · answered by b 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋