Was the United States seen as a "counterbalance" to Britain after the American Revolution?

by RobFword

I know this is weirdly worded...

I know one of the reasons France got involve in the American Revolution was to weaken the British. I was just wondering if any European powers continued to aid/support the US after the war to make them compete against the British and be almost a "thorn in their side" and act as a counterbalance to British power.

Bob9999999999999

I believe that was, essentially, Napoleon's reason for selling Louisiana to the U.S. as well as Russia's reason for selling Alaska. They didn't want the British (or their other European enemies) to get those lands and the U.S. seemed like a nonthreatening backwater at the time.