The Palace of Versailles was built as a royal residence outside of Paris during the late 1600s.

During the time of the American Revolution, Versailles was the home of King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette and they held court there. People who wished to be granted favors by the king or who had diplomatic missions attended court there. It was where government decisions were made.

Benjamin Franklin attended court at Versailles and persuaded the French to help the Americans in their fight for independence. When the Americans won a decisive victory at the Battle of Saratoga, the king approved a treaty with the United States, the Treaty of Alliance that made the French allies of the Americans. The French sent soldiers, sailors, ships, and money to America. Without the aid of the French, it is doubtful that the Americans could have won their independence.