Page "Louis XVI of France" Paragraph 32

In the spring of 1776, Vergennes, the Foreign Secretary, saw an opportunity to humiliate France's long-standing enemy, Great Britain, as well as recover territory lost during the Seven Years ' War, by supporting the American Revolution.

Louis XVI was convinced by Pierre Beaumarchais to secretly send supplies, ammunition and guns from 1776, sign a formal Treaty of Alliance in early 1778, and go to war with Britain.

Spain and the Netherlands soon joined the French in an anti-British coalition.