France in the war of American independence

France in the war of American independence is the attitude of the kingdom of France in the war of independence of the Thirteen British colonies in North America.

The Royaume of France - in spite of its financial situation more than delicate - uses the occasion of the war of American independence (1776 - 1783) to take its revenge on the Great Britain and the Traité of Paris of 1763.

Entered in war in 1778, and allowing the victory of insurgent (Treated of Paris (1783)), it reaffirms like great power modern, satisfied its desire with revenge, recovers lost territories, but degrades its finances, and congratulates the republican and democratic spirit (theoretical of the Lumières, and reality of the Americans).

Even if the material destruction is null in the metropolis - what is already, is, a victory in a war against Great Britain -, the exploits such as decisive the Bataille of Yorktown have their price, an amazing military cost: 1 billion Book tournaments severely degrading fragile finances of France: its deficit still increased. Worse: the commercial hope to off become the first partner of new the '' United States America '' is disappointed, Great Britain becoming again immediately the official partner, only remainder in France the eternal recognition of the released people, recognition of which Rochambeau and Fayette are the brilliances symbols, but the symbols do not make the economic health of a State. The hope to find the News-France formerly lost is him also finally ruined. The weakening of the French State, and the rise and setting in light of a viable alternative to the royalty are regarded as the first steps of the French revolutionary idea.

French diplomatic situation

Louis XVI entrusted the foreign affairs to Vergennes which shares with Choiseul the desire of a revenge on Great Britain. It follows initially a careful policy in Europe, preserving a balance between Prussia and Austria in the East, in particular at the time of the War of succession of Bavaria in which it does not intervene. In parallel, it equips France with a true fleet ready to face Great Britain, and gets informed assiduously about the increase in the tensions in America.

In 1770, alliance France - Austria promoted by Louis XV in 1756 is confirmed by the marriage of Louis XVI with Marie-Antoinette of Austria, and the alliance of the Pacte of family France- Spain dominate continental Europe. But it is the Great Britain, by the treated of Paris of 1763 which dominates finally the seas, the trade, and the world . Agitations of the 13 colonies, in particular starting from 1776, raise the question of the reaction of the States French, Austrian, and Spanish vis-a-vis the British leader. It is finally France, only or almost, which decides to face it by this American war.

The first tensions appeared between American British and colonists leave skeptics the whole of the European diplomacies: it is a purely British business. But the tensions between European nations make that an eye remains on these 13 colonies, preparing with the potentialities of actions.

French will

The French elite dreamed of a revenge since the treated of Paris of 1763. The treaty, is, and within sight of the conditions of defeat remained moderate, France kept its most lucrative possessions (sugar, such Saint-Domingue), and even if France-Spain-Austria alliance would have necessarily come to end from the Royal Navy British, the financial costs were overpowering, and all required the fast stop of this war. The opera hat of the treaty of Paris east thus accepted, but it remains in France a powerful desire of revenge wanting to finish this unfinished war .

Choiseul - which illustrates this desire of revenge - before even 1763, had already begun the modernization of the marine royal Frenchwoman, by envisaging a new type of war where the keying speed, the number of the ships and the attack of the merchant fleet of the enemy would have more importance than the floating fortresses. France has thus corsairized its navy by small ships, rapids and handy. It also modernized its material, the training of the soldiers, and has increases its manpower (300.000 h.). Louis XVI worked besides for this modernization by conceding the necessary financings to with it. The fleet, with its minimum in 1762, goes back to 67 vessels and 37 frigates.

American origins of the conflict

Since the end of the War Seven Year old, the financial position of Great Britain the growth to exert an increasingly narrow control on the trade and the economy of the colonies: the taxes increase, the trade is exclusive, and it is asked to them to take part in the maintenance of the British troops of the colonies by a particular tax, the Stamp Act and many other taxes. But the subject-colonists evoke a law claiming that " Null prone population of the British royalty cannot be imposed without the agreement of her représentation" . The tax is however imposed, follows a series of frictions from there.

Vis-a-vis the British power they lack weapons and of allies, and thus turn naturally to France. France, which does not have any direct interest, however engages in the effort of war risen, then in a war declared starting from the February 5th 1778, putting it almost alone vis-a-vis the Royal Navy.

The most known episode is the Boston Tea Party, where the colonists refuse the monopoly of the British companies of The by throwing it over edge. Great Britain decides to close the port in reprisals, and the remainder of the opinion feels quickly interdependent of the Boston iens. 1774? -->Un congress of colonists is organized, organizes armed militia, and new institutions. April 18th 1775, in the town of Monfort, a shooting sounds the departure of the insurrection. April 19th, 1776, the insurrectionists attack a British column, and the July 4th 1776 the the United States proclaim their union and independence, but it still remains to them to impose it.

The declaration of Independence of the United States, on July 4th, 1776

" We hold for obvious the following truths: all the men are created equal; they are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights; among these rights are the life, the freedom and the research of happiness. The governments are establish by the men to guarantee these rights, and their right capacity emanates from the assent of controlled. But when a long continuation of abuse shows the will to subject them to an absolute despotism, it is of their right, it is to have to them to reverse the government which is made guilty from there… The history of that which reigns today on Great Britain is a history of injustices and usurpationsrépétées the purpose of which, all, were direct the establishment of an absolute tyranny on our States. It maintained among us in times peace, of the standing armies without our assent It joined others to impose taxes without our assent, to transport us beyond the seas to be judged because of alleged offenses. In conséquenc, We, the representatives of the United States of America, assembled in general Congress prenantà pilot the supreme judge of the universe of the uprightness of our intentions, publish and declare solemnly with the name and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, that these colonies uniessont and have right to be States free and independent; that any political bond between them and léEtat of Great Britain east and must be entirely dissous." Extracts of the declaration of Independence of the Congress of the 13 colonies in Philadelphia.

The reception of the French public opinions

the French public opinion is favorable to an open war, but controlling them are more reticent because of the consequences and of the price of such a war.

; Popular reception As of the declaration of Independence of the 13 colonies, the American insurrection was particularly well accommodated in France, as well by the population as by the enlightened elites. The events are read and commented on in the press, in particular in the Franco-British review, the Courier of Europe . It appeared has much as the combat of the “spirit of the Lights” vis-a-vis “British tyranny”.

; Helps in the insurrectionists, Franklin in Paris The reception of Benjamin Franklin is enthusiastic, and of many French embark for Americas, to help the insurrectionists (Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg), moved by the occasion or animated by the sincere ideals of freedom and modernity, such Charles Tronson of Coudray, Pierre Charles the Child, Fanneau de Lahorie and Fayette , engaged as of 1776.

If Fayette gave a very new impulse to the emigration of the French noble young people in America, it is also necessary to quote among those which had preceded it by the officers who missed neither of talent nor of courage. As of 1775, one finds in the American Archives that two French officers, Misters Penet and of Pliarne, were recommended by the Gouverneur Cook, of Providence, with the general Washington, so that he heard the proposals which they had to make in favor of the cause of independence. The secret convention which was then concluded accepted its execution.

; Institutional reception The institutional reception is calmer, Louis XVI (which however temporizes in a clandestine help by the means of Beaumarchais) and especially Vergennes (1774-1781) are favorable to the open participation of France and propose the commercial and diplomatic profit possible: an analysis of the situation of the ground is in hand and they also seek allies (Spain by their Pacte of family, and Austria) or at least their neutrality (Austria, Netherlands, Prussia).

The military officials, economic, financial and diplomatic are rather reticent. The marine of France is described like still insufficient and inapt for such a war, the economy would be largely affected, and the deficit of the French public purses is notified by Turgot, then Necker. The diplomats are less enthusiastic than Vergennes and Louis XVI, they underline French insulation in the middle of definitely not involved Europe. Peaceful balance and the economic prosperity of the moment are in opposition with the ideal of revenge and the liberal ideal.

Helps with insurgent or Open war?

Vergennes and Louis XVI is in favor of the entry in war, however, vis-a-vis the oppositions, Louis XVI is dedicated to the compromise of a clandestine material aid by the means of Beaumarchais.

Beaumarchais

France thus engages in a private war, by the secret sale of weapons, started as of 1776. Initiated secretly by Louis XVI and Vergennes, Beaumarchais receives the authorization to sell powder and ammunition for nearly a million books tournaments under cover of the Portuguese company Rodrigue Hortalez and Compagnie . The assistance, passing through the British net, helps with the victory of George Washington. France in addition accommodated American frigates which " pirataient" British trading vessels. France provided also an economic aid either by gift, or by loan. But also an technical assistance, granting " Congés" with some of its soldiers and strategists in order to go to assist the American troops.

Since the declaration of independence, the Americans had received France of the rather moral helps that effective. The sendings of weapons provided by the government of Louis XVI were rather a speculation of Beaumarchais and some other people of businesses that an effective help.

Towards the entry in war

Deane, missionné by the insurrectionists and helped by the animosity of France towards England/Great Britain thus obtained a semi-official help. But the goal is well a total engagement of France. A new delegation made up of Franklin, Deane and Arthur Lee is missionnée to obtain the entry in war of European nations. They affirm that an alliance of the 13 Colonies, France, and of Spain would be the insurance of a fast British defeat, but Vergennes, in spite of its desire, does not accept. Franklin would have even proposed to help France to recover the News-France. July 23rd 1777, Vergennes requires that it be decided between the total assistance or the abandonment of the colonies.

Lastly, the international context of end 1777 is tended, there is a conflict of succession in Bavaria between Prussia and Austria, Austria requires the Alliance of France, which refuses, and ruffled thus the Austrian ally. Impossible thus to require its effort and support in a war anti-British. The will to link Spain also fails: Spain has there no interest, this spirit revolutionary is even threatening for legitimacy of the Spanish crown on its colonies of Latin America.

The French war

Entry in the War of American independence on February 6th 1778, the British naval forces - mistresses of the seas - and Frenchwomen - modernized - clashes as of this first year. Initially of face, in the English Channel, then in all the Atlantic Ocean, in a War of the convoys. The final victory will be decided by the battles naval of bay of Chesapeake, and by the battles terrestrial of Yorktown.

Of the assistance to the war

The British took Philadelphia, but the Bataille of Saratoga remakes to be born the American hope and enthusiasm from the French public opinions. The army of Burgoyne (Great Britain) is demolished, and worse: France decides to help the colonies, become aware that “it is possible that these 13 colonies gain on the condition of granting a help” . The Spanish ally is more skeptic. Vergennes and Louis XVI consider more and more the proposals for an alliance of Franklin, Deane and Arthur Lee. Great Britain alliance - France imposed in 1763 dark in a diplomatic crisis. The war profits from the full popular support, Fayette takes in importance, and the will of revenge can be expressed.

The treaty with the United Provinces of America

Vergennes and Louis XVI thus decide, the February 6th 1778, to sign with Benjamin Franklin a treaty of friendship and official alliance with the United Provinces of America, to which a treaty of offensive and defensive alliance for the case was joined where England would declare the war in France. France recognizes the independence of the Provinces, each one is committed not signing any separated peace, and the Provinces are committed protecting the French possessions from America. The news came from the May 3rd from there to the American Congress. It was accommodated by public rejoicings and caused sharpest enthusiasm.

The open war with England

In England, Lord Chatham was made transport to the Room and proposed to immediately declare the war at the house of Bourbon. Its finished speech, it fell disappeared and died in the same day. Its motion was adopted and the English ambassador close the court of Versailles immediately pointed out. Lord North wanted to entreat the danger by offering to the colonies what they had asked since 1774, with an unlimited amnesty. The Americans pushed back any arrangement which did not have as a base the recognition of their independence. The war continued with an increasingly violent character.

The battles begin in America, in the the Antilles.

A fleet of twelve vessels and four frigates started from Toulon for America, under the orders of the Count d' Estaing.

Another was gathered with Brest to fight in the seas of Europe. As of the entry in French war, Great Britain tries cloitrer the French navy in its water.

The combat of the Beautiful-Hen (captain of Clochetterie) opened the hostilities. The Count d' Orvilliers, left Brest with thirty-two vessels, held undecided fortune, in the Bataille of Ushant, against the admiral Keppel (July 27th 1778). The naval confrontation Brest-Ushant, in the English Channel, remains undecided: the 2 forces are withdrawn finally (British admiral Keppel).

An unloading of 40.000 men is considered in close British Isles, but French logistics not following, the operation is abandoned. On the continent, France protects itself by the Austrian alliance, which even if it does not engage in the engagements, affirms its supports diplomatic in France.

A beginning of European coalition

In the rest of Europe, the “league of the neutrals” refuses to take party. Then, seeing France holding indeed head in Royal Navy, Holland becomes pro-Frenchwoman, Spanish comes to help France in 1779, and Holland in 1780. Great Britain is in difficulty.

The French intervention is initially maritime and nondecisive, then the sending in 1780 of the 6.000 men of Rochambeau is decisive.

In 1779, 6.000 French faced already 3.000 British in the Bataille of Savannah, but the French attack is too much precipitated, badly prepared, and fails.

War of the Antilles

For the peripheral, Britanniques and French battles clashes for the domination of the the Antilles. In the Antilles, the French fleet guided by the marquis de Bouillé deployed an activity and talents that the impéritie of the admirals and the bad weathers often paralyzed, but which however threw on the French weapons a new glare. The Dominique was taken; but the English seized St Lucia that of Estaing could not recover

D' Estaing compensated for the loss of St Lucia while seizing the islands of Saint-Vincent and the Grenade, in the presence of the fleet ordered by the admiral Byron. It fought then a naval battle to him, the July 6th 1779, which put the English vessels out of state to hold the sea.

However successes of the French in the Antilles had had a great repercussion in Europe. The admiral Rodney was then in Paris, where it was retained by debts that it could not pay. One day that he dined at the Maréchal on Biron, he treated with scorn successes of the French sailors, by saying that if he were free he soon reason would have some. The marshal paid his debts

Indeed, after the recall of the admiral Byron, Rodney was sent to replace it with the the Western Indies.

The influence of Fayette

The arrival of Fayette at the court of France in February 1779 again drew to the situation of the Americans the attention of the government, more up to that point worried of intrigues and futilities that of policy and war. Fayette united its authorities with those of the American envoy John Laurens to obtain from the king a help as men and silver, and the news of the failure undergone by the Count d' Estaing in front of Savannah was the last argument which decided the cabinet of Versailles to carry out in all its rigor the treaty of offensive and defensive alliance concluded with Franklin the February 6th 1778.

It was decided that France would send to the Americans a squadron of seven ship of the lines to act on the coasts, a body of troops which was to be 10.000 or 12.000 men and a sum of six million books. Mr. of Rochambeau was named commander-in-chief of the task force, and the Chevalier of Ternay was put at the head of the squadron.

Fayette was worried then means of execution. It made to include/understand with ministers that, if it did not order as a chief the task force, which would be surprising for the Americans, it were at least necessary to put at its head a French general who would agree to be useful only under the orders of the American general-in-chief.

The choice which under these conditions was made of the count de Rochambeau satisfied it fully, and, without awaiting the departure of the task force, it embarked with Rochefort, the February 18th 1780, on the frigate the Hermione , which the king had given him as being very-good sailing.

Fayette returned on the Hermione to Boston, the April 28th 1780, to take again its station in the war of independence, preceding the helps as men, of effects and silver which it had obtained from the French government. The instructions given to Mr. of Fayette by the Foreign Minister carried that, to prevent very mistaken and any delay, it would place as well at Rhode-Island as at the course Henry, with the mouth of Chesapeak, a French officer charged to await the squadron, which was to land in one of these two points, and to give him all information for which it would need while arriving.

Forwarding moving

See also: Crossed from the Atlantic of the French task force (1780), Preparation of the French task force in the United States (1780)

The decisive intervention of Rochambeau

In July, the task force with the orders of the count de Rochambeau and strong of 6,000 men unloaded with Newport. It was brought on a squadron of ten vessels to the orders of the Chevalier of Ternay.

Before beginning its operations, Rochambeau awaited reinforcements that the Count de Guichen was to bring France to him; but this one had met in the Antilles, the admiral Rodney, who obliged the French convoy to take refuge in the Guadeloupe. Washington could only send some reinforcements, with Fayette, to the patriots of the South, and was resigned to give to the nearest countryside the decisive forwarding which he concerted with Rochambeau.

See also: Defense of Virginia by Fayette, Battle of Cape Henry

The countryside of 1781

The Battle of bay of Chesapeake (1781), puts in escape part of the British fleet, destroyed the remainder, and encircles Cornwallis in Yorktown, where it hopelessly awaits the promised reinforcements.

After one week of engagements continues, alliance France-Colonies allows the decisive victory of the head office of Yorktown (October 17th 1781).

When the British reinforcements arrive, one week later, they do not make any more the weight, Great Britain lost its Americas.

See also: Sending of French reinforcements in the United States (1781), Franco-American Countryside in the United States (at the beginning of 1781), Franco-American Countryside in the United States (August-September 1781), Franco-American Countryside in the United States (October 1781), Battle of bay of Chesapeake, Battle of Yorktown, Capitulation of Yorktown, Franco-American Countryside in the United States (at the end of 1781)

The world war against England

In India, they are the British who advance, fascinating Pondichéry . The decisive combat already took place on the American ground, these peripheral fights are the attempt at glares making it possible to better negotiate in Paris.

The taken of YorkTown was decisive for the cause of American independence. The English, who still occupied New York, Savannah and Charleston, were held on the defensive. (See Campage Free-States-Unienne)

On other points, the Duc of Crillon took Minorque. The Baillif de Suffren, sent to the the Eastern Indies to save the Dutch colonies, gained on the English four naval battles, from February to September 1782.

In the Antilles, the English preserved of another important island only the Jamaica. Of Fatty wanted theirs to remove. But attacked close to Holy the by higher forces ordered by Rodney, it was beaten and made captive the April 12th 1782. Other battles of importances take place, such that of Saint-Pierre-and-Miquelon.

The defense of the Siège of Gibraltar was a last success for the English. A brother of Louis XVI, the Count d' Artois, had gone there with 20.000 men and 40 vessels. 200 guns on the side of the ground and 10 floating batteries opened on September 13rd a terrible fire against the citadel, admirably defended by its frightening position and the courage of the governor Elliot. The place was going to be obliged to yield when a Tooth and nail made jump one of the floating batteries. The fire gained the close batteries and the Spaniards destroyed the others not to leave them to the enemies. Gibraltar remained with the English. The unloading with Minorque succeeds.

Peace and consequences

Starting from the Battle of Yorktown, secret negotiations begin directly between London and Washington, from which Benjamin Franklin takes care not to inform France of it. Great Britain yields the 13 colonies and grants to them all the positions in the south of the Big lakes and the East of the the Mississippi. By doing this, it breaks the union France-Province-Plain, and limit thus the force of France and Spain in the future negotiations.

However the debt of England was considerably increased. Lord North had to leave the direction of the businesses to yield the place to a ministry Whig which required peace of the cabinet of Versailles. France, which was not exhausted, accepted these proposals. The preliminaries were stopped with Paris, the November 30th 1782, between the plenipotentiary ones of the belligerent powers, with the number of which were for the the United States Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, John Jay, and Henry Laurens. The final treaty was signed the February 3rd 1783.

This news was quickly carried to America. The March 11th 1783, Lauzun started from Wilmington to bring back in their fatherland the last French soldiers. Thus the independence of the United States was founded, and the world counted a great nation moreover.

A limited victory thus had to be signed in September 1783, at the time of the treated of Paris. France gains (or recovers) territories in America, Africa, and India S, as well as increased rights (fishing with Newfoundland). The losses of the treated of Paris (1763) and of the Traité of Utrecht (1713) are partly recovered: Tobago, St Lucia, the zone of the Senegal river, as well as fishing rights increased to Newfoundland, etc Spain recovers the Florida, Minorque, but Gibraltar remains British.

Remote war, on sea, therefore necessarily expensive: more than one billion books tournaments. The public purses are disastrous, the financial expédients are put at contribution by Necker, and when it falls in 1781 (business of the Blue Conte) it is a succession of Secretary of State to the Finance S until Calonne, instability which weakens the reforms necessary to the re-establishment of finances Frenchwoman. The trade is slowed down also hard by this war, but starts again since 1783.

This war is especially important for prestige and the pride of France, it finds a role of European referee. France however does not become the principal business partner of the United States of America, in spite of particularly high military expenditure. Troops were sent very far, therefore very expensively, from approximately 1 billion Books Tournaments, posing France vis-a-vis a total financial drain of 3,315 billion LT.

Another consequence is that the ideas of the lights acquire some, finally will have applied it in the declaration of 1776, by the victory of 1783, and the Constitution of 1787: the liberal elites are delighted. But this has also its contrary effect: the conservatives contract themselves, the nobility is folded up on itself and its privileges in a reaction peerage-book. May 22nd 1781, the firm Edict of Ségur military stations of row higher than the commoners to reserve them for the nobility.

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