I feel compelled to correct one of your misconceptions about the origins of the USA....we did not flee the old country...by force of arms, we defeated your army and navy and won our independence from an abusive government.
The French helped us both directly and indirectly. Besides providing us with some arms, the French joined the US army at the ultimate battle at Yorktown. IIRC, France was at war with the UK at the time, so the bulk of the UKs army and navy were rather preoccupied.