What role did France play in the American Revolution?

BERJAYA
02:41

On July 4, Americans are celebrating the 250th anniversary of their independence – an event in which the French played a part.

Kylian Mbappe at Philadelphia Stadium on July 04, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
BUDA MENDES / AFP

France beats Paraguay 1-0, advances to World Cup quarter-finals
Michael Olise performs an acrobatic bicycle kick during the France-Sweden match in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 30, 2026.
JUSTIN SETTERFIELD/AFP
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Michael Olise, France's heaven-sent prodigy
During the heatwave in Paris, June 22, 2026.
WILLIAM KEO FOR LE MONDE 
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Climate change: 'We cannot meet the challenge of adapting housing with the tools of the past. A thorough overhaul is needed'

Christophe Rodriguez, the director of the French Institute for Building Energy Performance, explains in an interview with Le Monde the urgent need to adapt institutions in order to carry out the 'project of the century' – the renovation of France's building stock.

BERJAYA
Lucien Lung/Riva Press for « Le Monde »
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'We sacrificed everything': In Nablus, the relentless decline of Palestinian society

In the occupied West Bank, Israel's financial stranglehold on the Palestinian Authority, combined with the proliferation of military checkpoints, has pushed society into unprecedented poverty. In Nablus, the economic heart of the occupied territory, all sectors have faced a sharp decline in living standards.

French cyclist Paul Seixas in Liège, Belgium, on April 26, 2026.
MAARTEN STRAETEMANS/AFP
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Paul Seixas, the 19-year-old phenom carrying France's Tour hopes

For his first appearance at the Tour de France, which begins Saturday in Barcelona, the 19-year-old French cyclist is already seen as one of the top rivals to four-time winner Tadej Pogacar.

BERJAYA

Feature

Harold Thibault

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China's bridge and highway construction boom runs up against wall of debt in Guizhou

A symbol of China's ambitious infrastructure policy, the southern province of Guizhou has seen mega-bridges, airports and new neighborhoods proliferate. This excessive surge has also resulted in unmanageable government debt, corruption scandals and unfinished construction projects.

6 min read

BERJAYA
July 4th celebration in Washington, DC evacuated due to weather
Sign for the American pharmaceutical manufacturer near Cork, Ireland, April 10, 2025.
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'Ireland's GDP trends reflect global strategies of a handful of multinationals more than the actual state of the economy'
BERJAYA
Germany sees mass protests around far-right AfD congress
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., December 28, 2025.
Trump speaks with Putin and Zelensky ahead of NATO summit
Man climbs Eiffel Tower and hangs American flag
Pope urges Europe to protect migrants in visit to Lampedusa island
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US gripped by extreme heatwave, disrupting 250th anniversary and World Cup celebrations
New Zealand open Nations Championship with slim victory over France
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'Clipification': How short-form videos are reshaping the media landscape
Russia announces dozens of Ukrainian drones downed over St Petersburg
Hug crowds gather in Tehran for Khamenei funeral ceremonies
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The incredible success of the de Gaulle biopic 'reflects the paradox embodied by the hero of Free France'

Editor’s Picks

BERJAYA

Column

Alain Frachon

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'Which side were you on during Brexit? Every candidate in the French presidential election should answer this question'

The lessons from the UK's unprecedented vote to leave the European Union 10 years ago have been all too quickly forgotten, writes Le Monde columnist Alain Frachon.

3 min read

Gita Gopinath, former deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund, in Washington, April 25, 2025.

Interview

Julien Bouissou

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Economist Gita Gopinath: 'Rising imbalances among major powers threaten growth and fuel protectionism'

Harvard University economics professor and former International Monetary Fund official Gita Gopinath expresses concern over the level of US federal debt.

4 min read

Actress Lupita Nyong'o at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California, on March 2, 2025.

Letter from...

Marina Rafenberg

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Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' sparks a Homeric debate in Greece

The casting of a Black actress as Helen of Troy has ignited fierce controversy in Greece. Some lament what they see as Hollywood's appropriation of Greek mythology, while others emphasize the universal nature of these ancient stories.

3 min read

Opinion

Editorial

The shadows of an American anniversary

Le Monde
Op-Ed
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Timothy Snyder, historian: 'Trump's war against Iran shows that evil and folly can march hand in hand'

Timothy Snyder
History professor at the University of Toronto
Column
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A typology of France's presidential candidates

BERJAYA
Françoise Fressoz
Columnist

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  1. 'With Trump, the Founding Fathers' belief in the exemplary nature of US presidents has been lost'

  2. In Mexico, journalist Roxana Guzman, who was abducted in June, has been found dead

  3. 250 years of American independence: A disenchanted anniversary

  4. Michael Olise, France's heaven-sent prodigy

  5. The incredible success of the de Gaulle biopic 'reflects the paradox embodied by the hero of Free France'

  6. Madrid's residents raise their voices against mega-concerts

  7. Trump kicks off US 250th anniversary celebrations at Mount Rushmore

  8. US gripped by extreme heatwave, disrupting 250th anniversary and World Cup celebrations

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