<P> France played a key role in the American Revolutionary War (American War of Independence; 1775--1783). Motivated by the ideals of the new nation which were inspired by the French Enlightenment, as well as its long - term rivalry with Britain and so as to avenge their territorial losses during the French and Indian War, France secretly began sending supplies to the Americans in 1775 . </P> <P> By 1763, the French debt acquired to fight in the French and Indian War came to a staggering 1.3 billion livres . It "set off France's own fiscal crisis, in which a political brawl over taxation soon became one of the reasons for the French Revolution ." France obtained its revenge against Britain by assisting the Americans; however, it gained little real value and her massive debt severely weakened the government and escalated it towards the French Revolution . </P>

When did the france enter the american revolutionary war