They couldn't because of the Saratoga Campaign.
You will have to look at whether or not the creator of the source had a really positive or negative outlook on the situation.
If they are -for example- great friends with a bully, they will not tell as much of the truth, but if they are enemies, they may tell a very exaggerated truth to get them in trouble.
You must look for a very neutral feeling on both sides of the matter. If the author has an opinion, more likely than not it will affect the way they share the information
He Executive Branch and the Congress have constitutional
responsibilities for U.S. foreign policy. Within the Executive Branch,
the Department of State is the lead U.S. foreign affairs agency, and the
Secretary of State is the President's principal foreign policy adviser.
The Department advances U.S. objectives and interests in shaping a
freer, more secure, and more prosperous world through its primary role
in developing and implementing the President's foreign policy. The
Department also supports the foreign affairs activities of other U.S.
Government entities including the Department of Commerce and the U.S.
Agency for International Development. It also provides an array of
important services to U.S. citizens and to foreigners seeking to visit
or immigrate to the U.S.
All foreign affairs activities – U.S. representation abroad, foreign
assistance programs, countering international crime, foreign military
training programs, the services the Department provides, and more – are
paid for by the foreign affairs budget. This budget is key to
maintaining U.S. leadership, which promotes and protects the interests
of our citizens by:
The French revolution was very important for France, but also for the rest of the world.
The reason why it had such big influence was that the French people with their revolution showed the world that the power of the nation is in the people, and if everyone sticks together the leaders can not do anything against them.
That prompted lot of revolutions around the world, big portion of which will similar outcomes, while some, unfortunately, ended up in a situation similar or even worse prior to their revolutions.