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Who gained from the Treaty of Paris? The peacemaking negotiations at the end of the American War of Independence were an integral part of the independence process. If conducted properly the Americans would be free of European interference, however, the governments of Britain, France and Spain all sought to influence the future of the American states. During the military conflict, the states had allied for purely practical purposes and could not be described as a totally united body with identical aims and interests. The states also required the assistance of France in their battle for independence and in order to achieve this, had to present themselves as a unified, co-ordinated and above all, legitimate political body. To do this they formed an alliance of mutual assistance under the Articles of Confederation, in 1776. A treaty of alliance was signed with France in 1778 and was an important step, because it gave the confederation recognition from a major European state, and, therefore, put the Americans in a better situation to negotiate with the British at the end of the war. This was a step towards receiving recognition from Britain, which was important, as, while the Americans were still considered a group of colo