6 February -
France formally recognises the United States as a nation by signing a treaty of Friendship and Trade. An undeclared war with
Britain soon erupted
27 July - French and British
navies clash just off the coast of France
The
Dutch port of
St Eustatius in the
West Indies became the world's busiest port handling the majority of supplies and arms bound for the United States
1779
Xhosas clash with the settlers moving north, at the
Fish River starting the first of nine
Cape Frontier Wars over the next 100 years. Also known as Africa's 100 Years War.
12 April -
Spain joins with France and
America in the war against Britain