France was one of the greatest powers in Europe for most of the pre-modern era. France possessed a large population and lots of natural resources.
That does not seem like much, but most of those lands were taken from the Hapsburgs, the most powerful family in Europe, and also from the Holy Roman Empire, the largest single country in Europe.
Under Cardinal Richelieu, King Louis XIV, and Cardinal Mazarin, France pushed back against both the Hapsburgs and the English.
Europe was a multipolar environment and alliances switched up regularly. Catholic France supported Protestant Princes against the Hapsburgs in the Thirty Years War. It was also often allied with the Ottoman Turks and Tsarist Russia.
England and France fought numerous wars against each other before and after William the Conqueror’s successful invasion from the France. France, though especially opposed the Hapsburgs in the early modern era (1500 to 1800).
The Hapsburgs, though numerous marriages, suddenly possessed a huge empire in the 1500s, including Austria, Spain and its colonies, Portugal and its colonies, Naples, Netherlands, and Belgium, and many other lands, besides controlling the Holy Roman Empire. With the wealth of the New World flowing in, the Hapsburgs seemed unstoppable.
The 16th and 17th and 18th centuries are full of grand conflicts with huge coalitions, mostly splitting the French and the Hapsburgs. The Dutch fought for their independence, so they often allied against their Hapsburg overlords.
The War of Spanish Succession in the early 18th century saw Spain leave Hapsburg control and go under French control, in a major change in European politics. In the mid 18th century, the War of Austrian Succession was yet another huge conflict. Finally, the Seven Years’ War was the last major conflict prior to the American Revolution. In each conflict, the alliances changed and so the enemy in one conflict might be a significant ally in the next.
The Hapsburgs eventually lost a lot of their lands outside of Central Europe, while England grew in power. In a grand reversal of alliances, France and the Hapsburgs became allies in 1756, just at the start of the Seven Years War. And France’s number one enemy was once again England. France lost the Seven Years War and was ready to weaken England.
The Seven Years’ War was a truly world war, as shown in the map above.
So when British colonies in America revolted against England, France saw a chance to hurt its long term enemy. Without French weapons, fleet, and troops, American independence was almost impossible. So France had temporary revenge against England.
French involvement in the American Revolutionary War caused huge economic turmoil in France. Helping America win bankrupted the country and led to the French Revolution.
So, cool story, but what does it matter to us today?
Well, the most dominant power of the day, France, which was on the verge of controlling India and had powerful allies, attempt to weaken its chief rival through a proxy war. France spent so much money on arms and troops to support America that it caused internal economic disaster. This economic disaster led to the political disaster known as the French Revolution.
If France had not helped the 13 Colonies during the American Revolution, it is very likely that America would not have obtained its independence, at least at that time. And if France had not assisted America, it would not have bankrupted itself and caused the French Revolution.
America today is trying to economically destroy Russia through the war in Ukraine. Yet, the war has only made Russia stronger. Meanwhile, America is likely headed to complete disaster and upheaval, for an unnecessary and unimportant conflict and goal.
France‘s assistance of the American colonies has somehow become a keystone of the neocon ideology. I‘ve heard countless times how we have to intervene into the affairs of other nations because “we wouldn’t have won without France!” Of course, France’s subsequent descent into chaos is never taken into consideration.
We will never know what would have happened without French support, though I believe it would have only been a matter of time before the colonists achieved independence, given the challenges Britain faced fighting an overseas war. However, it is pretty clear what happened to France. Considering the unsettling parallels between 18th century France and modern America, I fear your predictions regarding the future of our country may prove to be accurate.