What prompted France to fight on the colonial side during the Revolutionary War?

The American victory at Saratoga in 1777 showed France that the colonies could defeat British forces and had a realistic chance of winning independence. France then formally allied with the United States and entered the war against Britain. The Continental Congress and Benjamin Franklin’s diplomacy were important, but Saratoga’s victory helped prompt France to commit to fighting alongside the colonies.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.