. A history of the United States. andher colonies the French had looked on with increasing inter-est. Many Frenchmen were eager for a chance of revenge onaccount of the losses which their country had suffered in therecent war. Others were interested in the cause of the colo-nists. They were ready to cheer on men who claimed theright to govern themselves. They admired the Americansalso because the colonial farmers and planters appeared tobe living more natural lives than Europeans. In Americathere were no princes or lords. Every man seemed to havean equal opportunity to make the most of himself
. A history of the United States. andher colonies the French had looked on with increasing inter-est. Many Frenchmen were eager for a chance of revenge onaccount of the losses which their country had suffered in therecent war. Others were interested in the cause of the colo-nists. They were ready to cheer on men who claimed theright to govern themselves. They admired the Americansalso because the colonial farmers and planters appeared tobe living more natural lives than Europeans. In Americathere were no princes or lords. Every man seemed to havean equal opportunity to make the most of himself. As soon as the war broke out Congress sent agents to thecountries of Europe, hoping for aid against Great one of the commissioners to France was Ben-jamin FrankHn. His homely sayings in Poor RichardsAlmanac, his clever inventions, like the stove, and his dis-covery, by means of a kite, that lightning is electricity, hadalready made him famous. He was regarded as a scientist 214 THE FRENCH HELPED THE COLONIES. and a philosopher. His simple manners and dress helped winthe love of the French, who were growing weary of wigs andlaces and rufifles. Frankhn styles, Frankhn caps, Frankhnsnuff-boxes, and Franklin walking-sticks became the craze in Paris. His portraits andbusts appeared everywhere,until he declared to his daugh-ter that her fathers face wasas well known as the moon. The French first aided thecolonies secretly, giving cloth-ing, powder, and guns for theContinental army to Frankhnor the other aid was obtained fromSpain. Besides, several milliondollars were lent to the Uni-ted States, to be repaid whenpeace was made. Some influential officials thought thetime had now come for an attack upon the ancient enemyof France. Others wished to wait until the colonial troopsgained a decisive victory. The news of the capture ofBurgoyne and his army put an end to their hesitation, andLouis XVI agreed to a treaty of alliance. Lafayette and Ste
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidhistoryofuni, bookyear1913
