Reasons were easily found to justify such an alliance.

The Treaty of Paris in 1763 had dispossessed France of her colonies in America and had left her inferior to England in other parts of the world.

Here was her chance to take revenge.

The new King, Louis XVI, had for Foreign Minister Count de Vergennes, a diplomat of some experience, who warmly urged supporting the cause of the American Colonists.

He had for accomplice Beaumarchais, a nimble-witted playwright and seductive man of the world who talked very persuasively to the young King and many others.
The Americans on their side had not been inactive, and early in 1776 Silas Deane, a member of Congress from Connecticut, was sent over to Paris with the mission to do his utmost to cement the friendship between the American Colonies and France.