On July 4th, 1776, the thirteen American colonies declared their independence and laid the foundation for a new government where they were each represented, marking a definitive break with England. In April 1777, a young Lafayette chartered a ship to travel to America. He was introduced to General Washington, and this was the beginning of a father–son relationship between the childless 45- year-old general and Lafayette, who was 20 years old. It was at a moment when General Washington was in the most profound despair that, in his own words, “Lafayette came to dispel my dark thoughts as the dawn dispels the night.” Not only did Lafayette dedicate part of his fortune to supporting the Americans, but he refused the compensation offered to him by Congress. He had great physical and moral qualities, a noble character, courage, frankness, and skills in combat that impressed General Washington and all of the patriots.

France was then ill-disposed toward the Americans and General Washington, who had fought with the English against them during the Seven Years’ War. It was thanks to the intervention of Benjamin Franklin, then the American Ambassador in Paris, and to the successes of the insurgent army, that the king of France decided to come to the aid of the Americans. A treaty of alliance was signed on February 6th, 1778. The Americans were reluctant to have another country intervening on their soil, and the contribution of the French was at first financial and maritime, aimed at hindering trade exchanges between England and its colony.