How did the French respond when the colonies defeated the British at Saratoga in the Revolutionary War?
They were encouraged to support the patriot effort.
They supported the British in their efforts to control the colonies.
They withdrew their support of the British.
They formed an alliance with Germany to attack the British.
When the American colonies defeated the British at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 during the Revolutionary War, the French were encouraged to support the patriot effort. This American victory was a turning point in the Revolutionary War because it persuaded the French that the Americans had a chance of winning. Consequently, in February 1778, France formally allied with the Americans and later declared war on Britain, providing essential military support and resources to the American cause. France's support was pivotal in the eventual American victory in the war.
The other options provided are not accurate:
- France did not support the British in their efforts to control the colonies.
- France did not withdraw their support of the British, as they had not been supporting them preceding the alliance with the American colonies.
- France did not form an alliance with Germany to attack the British. At that time, "Germany" as a unified country did not exist; it was a collection of various independent states within the Holy Roman Empire. France's alliance was with the Thirteen Colonies in North America.