At the beginning of the war, a French nobleman named Lafayette set sail for America to help with the glorious cause of establishing a democracy. More than a right hand man to Washington, he became a sort of surrogate son and dear friend.
Biographer Ron Chernow describes the reaction when France officially became and ally of America.
“At the news, Lafayette gave Washington-the man nobody touched-a double-barreled French kiss on both cheeks. Washington was exultant as tears of joy welled up in his eyes. ‘I believe no event was ever received with a more heartfelt joy,’ he informed Congress. For Washington, the French treaties gave proof that heaven had indeed smiled upon the United States. As he told his troops, in orotund prose, ‘It having pleased the Almighty ruler of the Universe propitiously to defend the cause of the United American States and finally, by raising us up a powerful friend among the princes of the earth, to establish our liberty and independence upon lasting foundations, it becomes us to set apart a day for gratefully acknowledging the divine goodness.'”
Washington’s exultation was somewhat short-lived. Both allies had overestimated the state of the other’s armies. Both allies had expectations that were not met by the alliance. Washington decided that the French foreign minister kept, “his hand under our chin to prevent us from drowning, but not to lift our heads out of the water.”
Washington’s foreign policy was greatly shaped his first foreign allegiance. He determined that, “it is a maxim founded on the universal experience of mankind that no nation is to be trusted further than it is bound by its interest.”
This view would be carried by Washington into his presidency.
History Schmistory 