Final answer:
The French provided assistance to the American colonies to weaken British power and further their own revolutionary goals. The Treaty of Alliance, formed between the United States and France in 1778, solidified this support. However, American views on the French Revolution and the desire for neutrality in Franco-British conflicts later brought complexity to this relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
The French offered assistance to the American colonies during the Revolution primarily as a means to undermine British power. After the American victory at Saratoga, the French saw an opportunity to support a rebellion that could weaken their long-standing enemy, Great Britain. The Treaty of Alliance, signed in 1778, formalized this assistance and committed each party to aid the other in the event of a war with Britain. Aside from their strategic interests, the French ideological commitment to spreading the revolutionary spirit, which aimed at overthrowing monarchies across Europe, also aligned with the American fight against British colonial rule.
However, the relationship between France and the United States would later face challenges. In the 1790s, differing American views about the French Revolution and concerns regarding neutrality in the ongoing war between France and Britain, placed strain on this alliance. Notably, George Washington and his advisers, despite their commitments under the Treaty of Alliance, opted for neutrality to safeguard American economic interests and security.