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Difficulty: EasyThe Revolutionary War: Military and Diplomacy

"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 Gouvernement as of commerce."
— Treaty of Alliance between the United States and France, 1778

Which of the following military developments was the primary catalyst for the diplomatic agreement described in the excerpt?

  1. The American victory at the Battle of SaratogaAnswer
  2. B
    The British surrender at the Battle of Yorktown
  3. C
    The colonial victory at the Battle of Trenton
  4. D
    The signing of the Treaty of Paris

Answer

The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga
The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 served as the turning point of the war. It convinced the French government that the Americans possessed the capability to defeat the British army, leading directly to the 1778 Treaty of Alliance, which provided vital French military and financial support.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the key diplomatic document referenced in the prompt and its year of signing.
The Treaty of Alliance with France was signed in 1778.
Establishes a baseline timeline to verify which military events occurred prior to this agreement.
2
Determine which prior military event directly motivated France to declare open support for the United States.
The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777 convinced French leadership that the United States could win the war.
France sought to weaken Great Britain but refused to commit to an alliance until there was clear evidence of American military viability.

Key Concept

The strategic connection between military victories (Saratoga) and foreign diplomatic support (the French Alliance) during the American Revolution.
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

The Revolutionary War: Military and Diplomacy

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