Ben Franklin's World 432 How France and Spain Helped Win the American Revolution
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Jan 27, 2026 
John Ferling, historian and professor emeritus of the American Revolution, walks through how European rivalry reshaped the war. France’s secret aid, the shift after Saratoga, and the naval buildup that made Yorktown possible. Spain’s strategic entry and wider European loans also prolonged the struggle. The conversation focuses on diplomacy, military coordination, and the global stakes that decided independence.
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France’s Geopolitical Motive
- France sought to weaken Britain after losing the Seven Years' War and saw the American crises as an opportunity for revenge.
- Paris believed removing Britain's American colonies would rebalance European power in its favor.
Bonvalard’s Secret Mission
- French officer Bonvalard posed as a merchant and met secretly with Congress in Philadelphia in December 1775.
- He reported the Americans could wage war and urgently needed arms, engineers, and supplies.
Why French Aid Was Secret
- France initially provided secret aid because it feared open intervention would trigger a war it wasn't ready to fight.
- French leaders believed their navy could not challenge Britain until about 1778, so secrecy reduced immediate British provocation.
