Spain enters the American Revolutionary War as an ally of France in June 1779, a renewal of the Bourbon Family Compact.

Unlike France, however, Spain does not immediately recognize the independence of the United States, as Spain is not keen on encouraging similar anti-colonial rebellions in the Spanish Empire.

Even before its formal entry into the war, Spain had been providing weapons and other supplies to the rebels through the important port of New Orleans.The Anglo-Spanish War is a conflict from 1779 and 1783 over colonial supremacy between the Kingdom of Spain and the Kingdom of Great Britain, with Spain supporting the Thirteen Colonies during the War of American Independence.

In 1776 Spain began joint funding of Roderigue Hortalez and Company, a trading company which provided crucial military supplies.

Spain also finances the 1781 Siege of Yorktown with a collection of gold and silver in Havana.

Like France, Spain sees the Revolution as an opportunity to weaken the British Empire (which had given the country substantial losses in the Seven Years' War).

However, many in Spain believe that the new country, as a descendant of Great Britain, will share the latter's aggression and imperial ambitions and try to capture long-held Spanish territories.

As a result, the Spanish does not forge a direct military treaty with the United States; instead, it allies with France through the Bourbon Family Compact.