their assistance to France. Americans in particular offered their homes for stranded French tourists,

援助。美國人們還特別提供自己的家 給無可返家的法國人住，

proclaimed their support, and even included France in high level intelligence sharing.

表明他們的支持，甚至和法國分享情報機密。

The US and France have been close allies since the very birth of the United States. This

從美國誕生以來，美國和法國一直都是密切的盟友。這不包括

is besides a disagreement over the Iraq War, leading to French Fries being renamed Freedom

一次對伊拉克戰爭的對立，讓薯條從French fries改名為Freedom fries

Fries, even though they come from Belgium. So, we wanted to know: why do the US and France

儘管薯條其實來自比利時。所以，我們想知道：為何美國和法國這麼

love each other?

喜歡彼此？

Well, France is actually the US’s first and oldest ally, having militarily supported

法國實際上是美國的第一個，也是最久遠的盟友。他曾在1778年軍事支援

the American Revolution against Britain in 1778. In some ways, the US might not even

美國，使之脫離英國而獨立。就某方面而言，要不是法國的幫助

exist if it weren’t for France. In their entire history, the two have only engaged

美國甚至可能不會存在。歷史上，這兩個國家只有

in direct aggression two times in history. The first was a quasi-war in 1798, when France

兩次的直接對立。第一次是在1798年，兩國幾乎要打起仗來，因為當時在

went through a revolution and the US refused to pay its debts to the new French government.

法國大革命之後，美國拒絕支付債款給法國的新政府。

The second was in 1942 after the Nazis took over. But who can blame them for severing

第二次則是在1942年，納粹佔領法國後。但斷絕關係也是沒辦法的事，

ties? It was the Nazis.

那可是納粹呢！

In fact, part of the United States was once French territory! In the early 1800s, Thomas

事實上，一部份的美國曾經是法國的領土。在19世紀初，Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson paid and bartered roughly $240 million dollars, accounting for inflation, in exchange

支付了2.4億美金，之後也造成了通貨膨脹，向拿破崙換來了

for nearly a million square miles of land from Napoleon. Today the Louisiana Purchase

將近100萬平方英哩的土地。當年的“路易斯安那購地”

comprises about a third of the continental United States.

包含了現今三分之一的美國土地。

Another major strengthening period between the two was during and after the Second World

另一個兩國極度友好的時期，是二戰時跟二戰之後。

War. France’s Nazi occupation was embarrassing for the country, and while liberating captured

被納粹佔領是讓法國非常羞恥的一件事，而在解放被佔領的

European cities, the US let France lead the charge on retaking their own capital. Additionally,

歐洲城市時，美國讓法國負責拿回自己的首都。另外，

at the end of the war, the US forgave France’s nearly $3 billion dollar debt from World War

二戰後美國放棄了 一戰時 對法國近30億美金的債權

One, and granted them more than half a billion dollars in new loans. This significantly helped

又給法國超過5億美金的新貸款。這大大地幫助了

France rebuild after the war.

法國的戰後重建工作

But perhaps the most turbulent period between them was concerning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

但兩國關係最緊張的時期或許就是 2003年入侵伊拉克 了

France’s foreign minister was unimpressed with George W. Bush’s foreign policy, and

法國當時的外交部長不贊同 George W. Bush的外交政策。法國還

along with Germany, China, and Russia, France blocked a UN resolution to invade Iraq. After

聯合了德國 中國 俄羅斯 否決了聯合國 入侵伊拉克的決議

going ahead and invading anyway, French opposition to what is now considered an illegal occupation,

在美國入侵伊拉克之後，法國對非法佔領的反對

was interpreted as anti-Americanism. This caused the whole “freedom fries” fiasco,

被視為反美主義。這造成了freedom fries的大失敗

a brief boycott of French goods, and actually ended up spurring real anti-American sentiments

原本只是抵制法國商品，最後真正地激起了法國的

in France.

反美情緒

From the invasion in 2003 to the end of Bush’s presidency in 2008, polls showed France’s

從2003年的入侵直到2008年Bush卸任總統，民調顯示

approval of the US ranged from 43 to 37%. But today, roughly 73% of the French approve

只有百分之43到37的法國人喜歡美國。如今，大約百分之73法國人喜歡

of the United States, and in turn, about 85% of Americans love France. France has permeated

美國；而大約百分之85的美國人喜歡法國。法國已經滲入了

American language, society, and culture, and vice versa. Despite some historical disagreements,

美國的語言，社會和文化，而反之亦然。儘管在歷史中曾有一些對立

US-French relations have been crucial for the development and stability of both countries.

美法關係 一直都是兩國發展和穩定的關鍵因素

So, just how powerful is France by itself?

所以，法國自己到底有多強？

Find out by watching our video on top. And if you want to know what life is really like

看看我們的影片吧。如果你想知道在法國的生活會是

in France, check our Secret Daily’s video below. Thanks for watching TestTube News! Don't forget

如何，看看 Secret Daily 的影片。感謝收看 TestTube News！別忘了

to like and subscribe for new videos every day.

幫我們按讚，還有訂閱我們，每天都有新的影片