Creating America: Origins of the First Global War

V. Zveg. “Battle Off the Chesapeake Capes.” Hampton Roads Naval Museum Collection.

The Treaty of Paris was the agreement between England and the United States which officially ended the American Revolution. It was just one of a series of agreements signed between the belligerents which collectively are called the Peace of Paris.

It is important to remember that England was fighting three other countries while they were fighting us. France formally joined our cause in February 1778, while Spain declared war on England in June 1779 and, due to Dutch cooperation with America, England declared war on The Netherlands in December 1780.

Lest you think these other nations came to our aid simply because they loved our idea of liberty for all, you should think again. Both France and Spain were ruled by absolute monarchs and The Netherlands, although technically a republic, was led by a Stadtholder, an executive with significant authority.

To be clear, officials in every nation in Europe were scared to death of our American concept of equality for all and an end to monarchies because that meant an end to their power and privilege.

France and Spain did not care if America won just so long as England lost. Additionally, France was confident they could dominate American policy once the colonies were free from England’s control.

In some ways, England, France, and Spain were simply continuing their conflict from the Seven Years or French and Indian War which ended in 1763, and the two losers of the earlier war (France and Spain) saw the chance to recover some lost territory.

In fact, France and England were engaged in so many conflicts around the world that their conflict bears its own name, The War of 1778, or the Bourbon War (Bourbon being the name of the ruling family in France and Spain). They fought over territory and trading posts in the Caribbean, India, and the Mediterranean.

France did commit some important resources such as gunpowder and muskets to the American colonies. However, their financial assistance and military involvement was not as significant and not as early as many commonly believe.

Specifically, in July 1778, their navy participated in a failed attack on Newport, Rhode Island. Then, in September 1779, France sent their navy and a contingent of soldiers to attempt to take Savannah, but the result was another costly defeat.

Not until July 11, 1780, did a “permanent” force of 5,500 French soldiers arrive when they disembarked in Newport. In other words, it took almost 2 ½ years after committing to help us before France finally sent a strong permanent contingent of soldiers to aid General Washington and the Continental Army.

Once arrived, the French took some time to recover from their strenuous voyage and reinforce the defenses around Newport, and then they went into winter quarters. Finally, in June 1781, the French army, along with General Washington’s 12,000 Continentals and militiamen, began their march that ended with the surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown on October 19, 1781. Importantly, this great victory was secured when the French navy defeated the British fleet at the Battle of the Virginia Capes.

Financially, the French committed to providing financial aid to America when they signed the treaty with us in February 1778. However, no money was given to the colonies until May 1781 when King Louis XVI gifted them six million livres and loaned them another ten million.

In other words, French financial aid did not arrive until three and a half years after they promised it. That is not to minimize the generosity of the king or to say the money was not appreciated and helpful because it was. It simply points out that for all but the last few months of the war, America was on its own.

As a side note, it turned out that between the King’s gift to America and the terrible costs from both the previous and current war, the French treasury was bankrupt by 1783. These financial straits led to the French Revolution and the collapse of the monarchy in 1789.

Finally, one could argue the greatest help France and Spain gave us was not troops or money, but simply the threat those countries posed to England since this danger forced the English to send their forces to locations other than America.

WHY IT MATTERS

So why does it matter to us today that we understand the background behind the world-wide conflict that ended with the Treaty of Paris? The American Revolution was just one part of a larger conflict that was spread across several parts of the globe and involving multiple nations. While our War for Independence is preeminent in our minds, understanding how all the parts fit together allows us to better understand how we came to achieve our freedom from England.

As Americans, we must always keep in mind that the French played a key part in only one prominent battle, Yorktown, and did not provide any permanent contingent of soldiers until 1780 and no money until 1781. The importance of understanding these facts does not lie in diminishing France’s role in the American Revolution, but rather in trumpeting the incredible achievements our Forefathers made in securing our freedom.

It was Americans who did the fighting and the bleeding and the starving and the freezing during our War for Independence. Remembering this does justice to our ancestors.

SUGGESTED READING

A classic account of the French and Indian War and the long running conflict between France and England for possession of North America is Francis Parkman’s The Battle for North America. First published in 1889, it is still the best book about this critical episode that so deeply affected the founding of America.

PLACES TO VISIT

Fort Ticonderoga is an incredibly beautiful place to visit. The site of numerous conflicts in the 1700s, it is the best-preserved fort from that era in America. It is truly one of our nation’s treasures.

Until next time, may your motto be “Ducit Amor Patriae,” Love of country leads me.