The role of the French in making the American Revolution a success

The role of the French in making the American Revolution a success, The History of the American Revolution

The story of the American Revolution is known to almost everyone. George Washington, led by Thomas Jefferson, won the armed struggle and ousted the British from the American mainland. However, in that long-running revolution, several European superpowers helped colonial America in every possible way. Among the allied countries France, the Netherlands, Spain helped. However, the French were ahead in helping and cooperating. Although there have been various questions about the activism of the Dutch, there has been no controversy over the help of the Spanish and the French. Because both imperialist countries were rivals and military enemies of Britain. However, historians have found a few more reasons for the alliance between Spain and France. One of the reasons is the 'Seven Years War'. Both countries were shamefully defeated in that war against the British. Although the French unofficially supported the Americans from the beginning of the revolution, they were recognized as formal allies through a treaty in 1778. Since then, the French government has been supplying gunpowder, boots, clothing, and cannons. They were also always active with their own navy on the American coast. In the final battle of Yorktown in 1781, the French navy strengthened the continental army.

The role of the French in making the American Revolution

Americans have always been grateful for the help and cooperation of the French in the American
Revolution. The oil painting of the British surrender in Yorktown, which is still hanging in the US
Capitol Museum is clear. The decision of the painter John Trumbull to depict the French on an equal
footing with the Americans as opposed to the British clearly indicates that the architects of the United
States have been treating the French with respect ever since. And the Statue of Liberty sent by the
French to the United States as a gift of friendship a hundred years after the American Revolution still

stands proudly on the New York coast. Ideological inspiration On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry, one of the leading architects of the United States, delivered a historic speech at the Second Virginia Conference. Many historians believe that the phrase "give me freedom or die" accelerated the armed struggle of the American Revolution. The conference was attended by Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and representatives from every region of colonial America. At the conference, he highlighted the importance of armed struggle. Henry's speech echoed a historical work by the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau. "People are born free, but they are captives everywhere," Rousseau wrote in The Social Contract in 1762

Historians believe that American architects and their supporters adopted French political

philosophy in the 180's. In the regional war is known as the Seven Years' War, the British

were militarily stronger than the French. But how the future American architects trampled

on the British in their own constitution completely changed the course of the revolution at that time.

The friendship of the American leaders with France was a big concern in the British camp to

get the idea of ​​freedom and independence. Lawrence Kaplan, a professor of history at Kent

State University, writes: For the colonists, supporting the French was as much a duty as a

kind of patriotism. At least to oppose the growing enemy British! The French philosopher

Rousseau spoke of sovereignty, not kings in one place. He also mentioned the need to

make laws for the welfare of the people as a majority group. Thomas Jefferson used many

of Rousseau's sayings, "All men are created equal." However, Baron de Montesquieu's

imprint on the US draft constitution is more noticeable. In his book, The Spirit of Law,

Baron speaks of forming a government based on balance and equality to avoid

dictatorship. So it is difficult to imagine whether the revolution would have succeeded without

the inspiration of these two French philosophers at such a difficult time for the Americans.

They posed a greater geopolitical threat to Britain Defeated in the Seven Years' War, the

French lost almost all of their colonies, including Canada. And so the French Revolution

and its advisers saw the American Revolution as a golden opportunity for revenge. At the same

time, they found an opportunity to overthrow the British and re-establish the empire. The then

Foreign Minister of France, Willie Comte, told King Louis XII of the

importance of being active in the American Revolution through multiple meetings. His argument was,

'This moment of humiliation and revenge by the British is useful and proven.'

According to some historians, the participation of the French turned the American Revolution into a one-sided, important armed war, including a global conflict. Because the British were able to clearly understand their position by then. At the same time, they had no alternative to armed struggle. Because at that time the Dutch Republic and Spain supported the freedom-loving Americans. This geopolitical reckoning was driving everything against the British. At the same time, it signaled to

both sides to decide whether to prepare for a continental war or get involved in the war. 

Secretly providing assistance:

One evening in 1775, Benjamin Franklin, an American architect, traveled with four colleagues to a secret meeting at the Philadelphia Carpenters' Hall. He was one of the delegates to the Second Continental Conference. He is also one of the main members of the secret committee. The British 

saw this meeting as a betrayal and a deception. That evening Franklin and his colleagues met with French secret envoy Julien Alexandre de Bonville. Historians believe that this meeting sowed the 

seeds for the development of French relations with the revolutionary Americans. The French ambassador also discussed a formal agreement at the Philadelphia meeting... Later, on his return to France, Bonvolaire gave a positive signal to the French ruler. Silas Dean, on the other hand, traveled to Paris in the guise of a merchant to negotiate as an envoy of Benjamin Franklin. His main goal, however, was to ensure the supply of clothing, weapons, ammunition, and military advisers to 25,000 American troops funded by the French. Within two weeks of the visit, the then French king agreed to give the Americans everything they wanted. However, Benjamin Franklin's visit to Paris in 18 ended 

all secrecy. In the end, the American elite was also pressuring Franklin to maintain the alliance with 

the French.

Provides money, equipment and troops:

No great plan can succeed without capital. And when it comes to freedom, money, troops and all the equipment are necessary. From the very first day of opposition to the British, the American coup relied on the unconditional support of the French. And Silas Dean and his team succeeded in realizing that strength and cooperation. In the end, France provided ৩ 1.3 billion in equipment and cash. Statistics show that at the time of the conquest of Saragota in October 18, the US military had 90 percent of its weapons supplied by France. At the same time, all the guns in their hands were French. The French also provided complete gunpowder for that war.

After the conquest of Saragota, the French increased their cooperation. The deployment of troops directly from France began in the 18th century, after the formation of an alliance with American pro-independence leaders and the conclusion of a trade agreement. Across the Atlantic, 22,000 navies took part in direct combat on about 63 French warships. Another 12,000 French troops took up arms against the British. Commander Comte de Rochambe, who led the French forces, inspired his troops to unite. St. Domingo, on the other hand, led by Comte de Grasse, won the Battle of Chesapeake against the British navy in 181, adding the French navy from present-day Haiti to the Virginia navy. The entire force, led by George Washington, Lafayette, and Rochambay, later hit Yorktown collectively. And the British surrendered there.

Provide political legitimacy to freedom-loving leaders:

The whole world, except France and its allies, at the time was denouncing the United States and its pro-independence leaders as traitors who only "rebelled against the ruler." The secret meetings between the two sides before the armed conflict helped to develop the relations of the American leaders with the French. The agreements signed between the two countries in 18 recognized the United States as an independent country and opened the way for international trade. Although Spain signed a treaty with the United States in 179 for the sake of friendly relations, they could not play a greater role than the French.

After the surrender of the British in Yorktown, France once again extended a hand of diplomatic assistance. In 183, on the eve of the historic Paris Agreement, Britain offered a peace treaty to both sides. Both France and the United States rejected the British offer in favor of the French Foreign Minister Virginia. The British eventually forced the Americas to declare the territory independent and signed the Treaty of Paris, relinquishing most of the territory east of the Mississippi River. France's intervention or role led to the recognition of America as an independent America from the British colony through the Treaty of Paris, which later became known as the Union of America and now the United States of America.