Some help and money, but the fighting they did on their own. The writing of the U.S. Constitution was from their own genius. In other words, they were capable and had the smarts to lead and run a good strong country on their own. And of course it worked without them being a protectorate or having a UN or EU or foreigners to run the judiciary, write the laws, and so on.
You are aware that the allied forces at the Siege of Yorktown included more French (between their expeditionary force and their fleet) then Americans.