The war, like all wars, was proving more expensive for the Bourbons than planned. Since the alliance, France had advanced to the Americans over 100 million livres, about $25 million, in loans, supplies and gifts, and before it was over the cost of the American war for France would amount, by some estimates, to 1.5 billion livres, a historic sum that was virtually to bankrupt the French national budget and require the summoning of the Estates General in 1789 that led to the arrest of the King and the sequence of eruptions that became the French Revolution.
The escalating costs of the war significantly burdened the Bourbons, culminating in expenses far beyond their initial projections. France extended over 100 million livres, or approximately $25 million, in loans and aid to the American cause, with total expenses potentially reaching a staggering 1.5 billion livres. Such financial strain was unprecedented and nearly bankrupted the French national budget.
This overwhelming debt compelled the French government to convene the Estates General in 1789. This gathering triggered a series of events, including the arrest of the King, ultimately igniting the French Revolution. The fiscal challenges faced during the war underscored the profound impact of international conflicts on domestic stability.
