Yes, American Independence was directed and secured by our Founding Fathers, the Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Hamilton, Franklin, etc., but there would have been no victory, no fireworks or parades, no defeat of the British without the military commitment of France.
France bitterly resented its loss on the Seven Years' War with Britain and sought revenge; it also wanted to keep Britain from becoming too powerful. The opportunity was now at hand. Following the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution was well received in France, by both the general population and the aristocracy. Benjamin Franklin, dispatched to France in December 1776 to rally its support, was welcomed with great enthusiasm. The French had become interested in the American Revolution from the outset. They saw the revolution as an opportunity to strip Britain of their North American possessions in retaliation for France's loss of Canada a decade before. At first, French support was covert; French agents sent the Patriots military aid (predominantly gunpowder) through the legitimate French company Hortalez & Cie, beginning in the spring of 1776. By 1777, over five million livres of aid had been sent to the American rebels. In the end, the French had spent over 1.3 billion.
Motivated by the prospect of glory in battle or animated by the sincere ideals of liberty and republicanism, volunteers joined the American army such as Pierre Charles L'Enfant. The most famous was Lafayette, a charming young aristocrat who defied the king's order and enlisted in 1777 at age 20. He became an aide to Washington and a combat general. More importantly he solidified a favourable American view of France.
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Yes, France fought alongside the United States, against Britain, from 1778 till 1783. French money, munitions, soldiers and naval forces proved essential to America's victory over the Crown, but France gained little except large debts.
The high debt France accumulated was a major cause of the French Revolution in 1789.
Add to that, the gift from the French of the Statue of Liberty, and I would say that we have been indispensable accomplices in creating and maintaining sovereignty.
So, don't forget to have a croissant on this day, or at least look east to the shores of Normandy....as a gesture of gratitude.
Vie de la Liberte' (Freedom Lives)
