Q&A: when the American Revolution became a proxy war

Was the American War of Independence a French proxy war?

It did not begin as one, but it became a proxy and global war after Saratoga brought French money, naval power, and worldwide fighting into the conflict.

The war did not start as a French proxy conflict, because decisive French intervention followed the colonial victory at Saratoga. Once French naval power and money entered the struggle, Britain also had to fight France in other theatres around the world. The conflict therefore acquired a proxy dimension through the actions of outside powers rather than through its original cause.