How Did the French Support the Colonies during the American Revolution - Research Paper Example

HERE HERE NUMBER HERE HERE American History: French Aid, the Beginning and the End of the Revolutionary War, And Thomas Jefferson, Biography of a Statesman, Patriot, and President Introduction In contemplating the discourse of American history, the Revolutionary War undoubtedly stands out as one of the most celebrated and well-known chapters. However, in writing that history, it is easy to assume that the colonists won the war entirely on their own. Certainly their use of different tactics helped, as did their passion for their cause, but they were not entirely independent even in fighting for their independence. The colonists probably would not have won the war without the aid of the country of France, who provided valuable support for the colonies. Fighting together against Great Britain, whom France considered a common enemy between the two countries, support was provided for the colonies at first only diplomatically. As the war progressed and the odds of winning shifted to favor the colonists, France provided direct aid in the form of officers, soldiers, and weapons to aid in battle, in addition providing ships and naval forces to help with battles at sea. The Founding Fathers of the nation considered an alliance with France largely because of the fact that they too disliked Great Britain, and with good reason. Wars were not unusual between the two countries, the most recent at that time being the French and Indian War, also known as the Seven Years War (Brinkley 96). At its conclusion, the French lost valuable territories to Great Britain in the land of what is now America, cementing a dislike that would not easily be forgotten (Brinkley 97). The Founding Fathers decided to use this dislike to their advantage, and approached France to form an alliance. French Assistance to the Colonies At first, while France provided aid, it was only by indirect means, with no overt assistance. From letters written by Benjamin Franklin in 1775, the French already had knowledge of the widening crisis between Great Britain and America, and were certainly not keen to support Great Britain (United States Office of the Historian). Through a delegation appointed to France in 1776 consisting of Silas Deane as well as Benjamin Franklin, King Louis XVI was persuaded through position papers of his advisors to give aid to the colonists (Dull 61). He provided the monetary means to equip the colonists with arms in the form of one million livres tournois (Dull 61). King Louis XVI also ordered two groups of ships from the French fleet to stand ready for prompt dispatch, should Great Britain move to blockade any French ports of sea (Dull 61). The money itself was not loaned directly to the American government, as this would have been seen as an overt act of war; Great Britain, at this time, was keeping close watch on French actions and France could not afford another war with them (Dull 61). Secrets piled on top of secrets to help America. Commerce became the solution. The French foreign minister Comte de Vergennes created a commercial company, which was then used as a go-between and given the million livres tournois (Dull 61). The money, through the company, purchased arms from the French government, including guns, gunpowder, and other military supplies, which it sold to the American Congress, to be exchanged for payment in American tobacco (Dull 61). Through means such as this, France was able to provide indirect aid to the American nation while remaining largely in the background of any conflict between Great Britain and the Americas. It also did not hurt the French to know that, once again, their common enemy would be wounded one way or another by the French supplies. It was soon apparent that secret aid would not be enough for the American Revolution. While France was content to provide that aid and remain in the background, causing strife to the country of Great Britain by aiding the colonists, they were unsure of whether or not openly supporting the war would be a good decision. First, it was not clear if America had the fortitude to sustain a long battle with Great Britain (Murphy 232). If France helped the colonists, then Great Britain would almost certainly declare war on them as well; France needed assurance before committing more than secret resources that they were indeed on the winning side (Murphy 233). While diplomacy and behind-the-scenes aid were approved without much hesitancy, direct military help and assistance were another matter entirely, and France could not afford to subjugate themselves any more to Britain. France did not have to wait very long. At first, it looked as though they would; Washington suffered a number of defeats in and around New York in 1776 (Axelrod 179). His other defeats at Brandywine, Germantown, and even in Philadelphia in 1777 did not invite confidence from France (Axelrod 210). However, upon victory at the Battle of Saratoga, helped by the fact that Burgoyne had make the blunder of dividing his forces into three parts, France decided that the American nation would indeed win the war, and thus decided to aid them publicly (Axelrod 236). France was the first nation to recognize the United States of America as a new nation on December 17, 1777, and welcomed the envoys from that nation openly at that time as well (Axelrod 236). France and the new nation of America were full allies at last. Treaties were quickly signed. Through the treaty of Amity and Commerce, as well as the Treaty of Alliance, both signed on February 6, 1778, support was guaranteed in a number of ways to the American nation (United States Office of the Historian). The Treaty of Amity and Commerce provided for favorable status in regards to trade provisions, namely those of weapons and other means (United States Office of the Historian). In effect, it gave each country most favored nation status with regards to trade, as well as granting the privilege of consuls from each country to be stationed in the other (United States Office of the Historian). The second treaty, known as the Treaty of Alliance, gave provisions of a more military nature to help America in their cause of freedom against Great Britain (United States Office of the Historian). The two treaties were ratified at the same time by the Continental Congress on May 4, 1778, and announced to the British on May 13 (Axelrod 236). As expected, Britain seized the opportunity and declared war on France on June 20 (Axelrod 236). The alliance had brought enemies as well as friends, but the French believed that they were on the right side of the battles. Even before the treaties were signed, officers from France had appeared to help with the battle of the colonies, though not directly sent by the French government. The Marquis de Lafayette, a wealthy French aristocrat, had ideals in his heart and mind about the cause of liberty, and pledged to aid the colonies (Axelrod 235). He sailed for America in 1775, and though greeted coolly by Congress, became indispensable to Washington in battle (Axelrod 235). Lafayette was the first to arrive, but others followed after the alliance was formally concluded between the two countries (United States Office of the Historian). Count de Rochambeau landed at Newport, Rhode Island, with a sizeable French army of over 6000 men in July 1780, but quickly found he was blockaded unable to leave, preventing any sort of immediate assistance, though he eventually would play a part in the war (Fiske 245). However, French aid overall was indispensable in providing reinforcements with which to assist colonial forces between the years of 1778-1782 (United States Office of the Historian). It is not an exaggeration to say that without it, the colonies would not have won the war. Perhaps the greatest evidence of French support was noted at sea. Defeated in both forces and spirit, Lord Cornwallis abandoned the hope of winning anything in the Carolinas and moved to attack Virginia instead (Brinkley 128). He was ordered to take up a defensive position in Yorktown, where he was met with French and American forces, led by both de Rochambeau and the Marquis de Lafayette (Brinkley 129). Much to the surprise of the British, however, their entrance to the bay was obstructed by French Admiral de Grasse, who with his fleet of ships not only blocked the entrance to the port, but set themselves upon the British naval forces, causing destructive damage to three ships and wounded or killed at least 700 men (Fiske 335). It would be the final nail in the coffin of Cornwallis, and provide both the means for the surrender of his troops as well as recognition for the long-fought cause of freedom. The Declaration of Independence and The Treaty of Paris 1783: An Analysis The Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Paris hold special places in the history of the United States of America. Both documents have to do with not only the Revolutionary War, but with the cause of freedom itself. It cannot be denied that both documents have to do with the Revolutionary War, for the Declaration of Independence undoubtedly began the war, while the Treaty of Paris ceased all hostilities and ended the war. Yet the underlying principle that both documents speak to carries a far greater and weightier purpose than the beginning and ending of a war, for that underlying principle is freedom, and how each person was not only entitled to it, as seen by the Declaration of Independence, but would be recognized because of it, as seen in the Treaty of Paris. The Declaration of Independence was the first formal document published to declare the states, and people within those states, as free individuals. As such, they were no longer bound to the rule of King George III or Great Britain. Great care was taken to state that “certain unalienable rights” were “endowed by a Creator, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Thomas Jefferson, speaking on behalf of the colonies as well as from his heart, made no secret to the belief that freedom did not come from man, or a king, but from God, and thus could not be taken away by any action from man, or a king. People were free because they were born free, not made so and not granted to be so by anyone but God. Jefferson also wrote “that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the rights of the governed.” King George III, in becoming more and more a dictator and tyrant, had in fact gone against what was good and purposeful to ensure that his subjects could pursue their “inalienable rights”, and was no longer fit to govern the colonies. This was also cemented in listing all of the actions that King George III had taken that progressively tightened the noose of the colonies and those that resided in it. Jefferson could have stopped there, but he did not. He also made sure to state that the people of a country, when they felt that they were being governed unfairly, had the right to throw out the old government and establish a new one more suited to their purposes. It should be noted that this probably did not make Jefferson a radical who believed in the everyday occurrence of overthrowing a government; in fact, the Declaration of Independence states “prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes,” giving rise to the opinion that revolution could be profitable when thought through, after all options were examined. The Treaty of Paris also holds significance, and like the Declaration of Independence, while it has to do with the Revolutionary War (this time the end, rather than the beginning), it has much to do with freedom and recognition. The main points in the Treaty of Paris are that they force Great Britain not only to acknowledge the United States as its own separate nation, but also command Great Britain to recognize and respect the boundaries of the United States. These points were considered so important that they form the basis of the first two articles in the treaty; after the introduction, the words “His Britannic Majesty acknowledges the said United States” leap out clearly. Though the second article couches the boundaries in diplomatic language, claiming that they are stated “to prevent disputes”, the point is clearly there that the United States wished Britain to acknowledge them. It would most likely have been seen as fitting justice for those that had been denied the privilege of being recognized as anything other than a rabblerousing lot of revolting colonists, to have Great Britain acknowledge them as a country unto themselves. The Treaty of Paris 1783 also provides for end-of-the-war provisions for both countries. While the Declaration of Independence sought to inform the public and the King in Great Britain about wrongs that needed to be addressed, the Treaty of Paris is concerned with wrapping up the details of the war and making sure that both countries get what is needed before resuming business with each other. For example, the Treaty of Paris states that debts will be paid by the citizens of their respective countries, meaning that Great Britain could not one day decide to “bill” the United States for damages during the war. In addition, it established areas for things such as fishing in what would be considered British territory, off of the coast of Newfoundland, for both the United States and Great Britain, as well as clarifying use of the Mississippi River for both countries and making sure that Great Britain did not turn around and declare war again on the American nation. In this manner, things were concluded, just as they were begun in the Declaration of Independence, in a solemn and gentlemanly manner. It may seem as though both documents were only important at the time they were written and ratified, but in truth they are still important today. They hold within them the solemn conditions on which the United States was first founded and recognized. They also provide for recognition of freedoms and privileges to everyone, and proclaim such freedoms to be granted by a high power; as such, no man has the power to take them away. Without these documents, the history as we know it of the United States of America would be far different or even nonexistent. Thomas Jefferson: Statesman, Patriot, and President Though many men contributed to the final accomplishment of the United States being recognized as a free nation, the deeds of Thomas Jefferson stand out. In addition to being one of the Founding Fathers and penning the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson fought tirelessly for the country in the stuffy halls and rooms of Congress. He was asked to leave his home more than live in it at Monticello, Virginia, on behalf of his country. He was one of the first to fight for the freedom of all men, no matter their skin color, and he gave of himself so often to others and to his country that history is left to wonder what, exactly, was left when he retired from political service. Jefferson was not born to humble beginnings, though his family descended from them. His father, by the time of his birth, owned a successful farm, and was known to be a successful surveyor as well (Malone). His mother, Jane Randolph, came from one of the most well-known and well-considered families of Virginia (Malone). Jefferson would become a successful plantation owner himself, building his estate known as Monticello when he was twenty-six years old (Malone). He also found a wife, Martha Skelton, who died ten years into the marriage, and although the couple had had six children, only two lived to their age of majority (Malone). He did not remarry after the death of his wife (Malone). His career in politics and government service is one that certainly cannot be denied. He had roles in not only county legislature, serving as a magistrate and county lieutenant, and then moved into the Continental Congress (Malone). He served both at home and abroad, succeeding Benjamin Franklin as commissioner and minister to France from 1784 to 1789 (Malone). Before that, he had been the governor of Virginia and a member of its state legislature (Malone). There were few men at the time, aside from Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, who had seen so much and done so much for the United States. Jefferson also shares the distinction of being part of not one but three presidential administrations. He served as Secretary of State for George Washington from 1790 to 1793 where his voice was loudly heard against that of Alexander Hamilton, pleading for America to remain a nation of farmers and not become one of wealthy landowners and big cities (Brinkley 158). He won the presidential election of 1800 and served as President from 1801 to 1809 (Malone). He disdained formalities and often went about in street clothes, even meeting the British Ambassador in everyday clothing (Brinkley 181). Jefferson even walked to and from his inauguration like any other person (Brinkley 180). Above all, Jefferson wished to be an ordinary citizen, not a pretentious politician. The accomplishments of Thomas Jefferson were not confined to him holding political office. He was a skilled writer, and his many documents have become part of national history. In addition to the Declaration of Independence, which was asked to draft, he wrote a discourse in 1777 that would become known as The Virginia Statute of Religious Freedom. This statute, adopted by the state legislature in 1786, called for full and total separation of the powers of church and state (Brinkley 137). The American people, Jefferson believed, should be allowed free practice of religion, and government should not have anything to do with this (Brinkley 137). Jefferson was also an advocate for education, and believed that education should be available freely to all; to this end, he drafted the Bill for the More General Diffusion of Knowledge in 1778 (Malone). He also wrote and published a book on his home state of Virginia, detailing its flora and fauna in great, almost loving detail in a volume known as Notes on the State of Virginia (Malone). It was published in 1786, presumably while he served abroad as minister in France (Malone). Without question, Jefferson was able to put pen to paper in a way that inspired and caused thought among Americans at the time. It can be said, however, that the greatest role of Jefferson during the Revolutionary War was in drafting the Declaration of Independence. He had previously written a pamphlet called A Summary View on the Rights of British America, which should be counted as a precursor to the Declaration, in which he first noted his belief that rights came from a creator, and not a King (Malone). In the Declaration of Independence, he took to heart the feeling of an oppressed nation, and put those feelings down in a way that lives on no matter how far the nation marches forward from the events of that time (Malone). He was able to decry a King with a list of charges, as well as express the views that the rights that were due to man did not come from man, but from the Creator. Jefferson also holds great love in the hearts of Americans for helping to expand the nation while holding office as President. Newly-elected Emperor of France, Napoleon Bonaparte, offered what became known as the Louisiana Purchase to the Americans sent to Paris as envoys, and for the sum of $15 million dollars, the United States grew in size (Brinkley 185). Also, in 1803, Jefferson had authorized the now-famous expedition of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the lands to the West, to chart geographical facts about the country and also assess opportunities for trade with the Native Americans (Brinkley 185). Through their reports, it was learned that vast lands lay over the Rocky Mountains, and Americans began to wonder what life would be like if they settled in the west. Upon losing the presidential election of 1809, Jefferson retired from public life. His remaining days were spent at his estate in Monticello, where he received the Marquis de Lafayette in a historic reunion in 1824 (Malone). He was given the gift that he treasured the most, which was privacy, and time to be alone with his family, whom he loved dearly (Malone). His political career had gone for more than five decades, and he was finally given a chance to live in and love the home that he had built lovingly for the family that he treasured (Malone). This does not mean that he remained idle while he was there, however. Jefferson performed his last public service at the age of seventy-six, when he founded the University of Virginia (Malone). Never one of to let his love of education die, Jefferson lobbied for money for its founding, planned the curriculum, and even served as its first head (Malone). By the age of eighty-three, Jefferson was undoubtedly tired, and died at Monticello on July 4, 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the ratification of the Declaration of Independence. His life had been long, and his service to his state and his country had been unfailing. He lives on in the pages of history books, and in the hearts and minds of a nation grateful to the man who willingly drafted a document that started America on the road to independence forever. Works Cited Axelrod, Alan. The Real History of the American Revolution: A New Look at the Past. New York: Sterling Publishing Company, 2009. Print. Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation: A Concise History of the American People. Fourth Edition. Volume One: To 1877. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print. Dull, Jonathan R. A Diplomatic History of the American Revolution. New York: Yale University, 1985. Print. Fiske, John. The Historical Writings of John Fiske: The American Revolution. Volume II. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1896. eBook. Malone, Dumas. “Brief Biography of Thomas Jefferson.” Monticello, Home of Thomas Jefferson. Thomas Jefferson Foundation, Inc., February 2003. Web. 8 Mar 2012. Murphy, Orville T. Charles Gravier, Comte de Vergennes: French Diplomacy in the Age of Revolution. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1982. eBook. “Paris Peace Treaty (Peace Treaty of 1783).” Archiving Early America. Archiving Early America, 2012. Web. 9 Mar 2012. United States Office of the Historian. “Milestones 1776-1783: French Alliance, French Assistance, and European Diplomacy during the American Revolution.” United States Department of State: Office of the Historian. United States Bureau of Public Affairs, n.d. Web. 7 Mar 2012. Read More