Why did powers such as the French, Spanish and Dutch begin to support the Colonists during the war?

France's help was a major and decisive contribution towards the United States' eventual victory and independence in the war. However, as a cost of participation in the war, France accumulated over 1 billion livres in debt, which significantly strained the nation's finances. The French government's failure to control spending led to unrest that eventually culminated its own revolution a few years after the conflict between Britain and the United States concluded.

in 1862, president lincoln's emancipation proclamation opened the door for african americans to enlist in the union army. although many had wanted to join the war effort earlier, they were prohibited from enlisting by a federal law dating back to 1792.

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