Page "Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes" Paragraph 23

Long before France's open entry into the war, Vergennes approved of the Pierre Beaumarchais's plan for secret French assistance.

From early 1776, the French gave supplies, arms, ammunition and volunteers to the American rebels.

The weakness of the British naval blockade off the American coast allowed large amounts of goods to reach the continent.

In 1777, Vergennes informed the Americans ' commissioners that France acknowledged the United States, and was willing to form an offensive and defensive alliance with the new state.

In the wake of the Battle of Saratoga, a defeat for the British, Vergennes feared that the British and colonists might reconcile.

He hastened to create an alliance with the Americans from fear that they might jointly attack France with the British.