The French Connection: France's Role in the American Revolution

According to the text, what was the most significant diplomatic success for the American colonies during the Revolutionary War?

• Securing a treaty with Spain
• Forging a critical alliance with France
• Negotiating peace with Britain
• Gaining support from the Netherlands

Why was France initially interested in supporting the American colonies?

• To spread democracy
• To weaken their British rivals
• To gain control over North America
• To improve trade relations

Who was sent to negotiate an alliance with France on behalf of the Continental Congress?

• George Washington
• Thomas Jefferson
• Benjamin Franklin
• John Adams

What event in 1777 finally convinced French Foreign Minister Vergennes to offer an official alliance?

• The Battle of Saratoga
• The Declaration of Independence
• The British evacuation of Boston
• Washington's victory in New York

What clause in the Treaty of Alliance prevented either the U.S. or France from making a separate peace with Britain?

• The commerce clause
• The non-separation clause
• The mutual defense clause
• The secret clause

How did Benjamin Franklin's popularity in France contribute to the alliance?

• It increased French military support
• It increased French public support for the American cause
• It convinced King Louis XVI to join the war
• It led to immediate financial aid

What was the purpose of the Model Treaty drafted by the Continental Congress?

• To declare independence from Britain
• To serve as a guide for foreign alliances
• To establish a new form of government
• To outline military strategy

Which country's support did Vergennes seek before fully committing to an alliance with the United States?

• Germany
• Russia
• Spain
• Italy

What crucial role did the French navy play in the American Revolution?

• Blockading British ports
• Transporting reinforcements and protecting Washington's forces
• Attacking British colonies in the Caribbean
• Providing food supplies to the Continental Army

Which battle effectively ended the Revolutionary War?

• Battle of Bunker Hill
• Battle of Trenton
• Battle of Saratoga
• Battle of Yorktown