Isabella Carter
Diplomacy played a pivotal role in the American Revolution, with both sides leveraging international relations to further their goals. The United States, recognising their military and strategic disadvantages, sought to gain support from Britain's enemies, particularly France and Spain. In contrast, Britain aimed to maintain European neutrality and contain American diplomatic efforts, relying on their relationships with Native American tribes and German states. The success of American diplomacy, particularly in securing alliances and support from France, proved crucial in isolating Britain and achieving victory in the war, ultimately leading to the recognition of American independence.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Importance of diplomacy | Central to the outcome of the American Revolution |
| American strategy | Securing assistance to counter Great Britain's military advantages |
| British strategy | Contain American diplomatic efforts and leverage relations with Native American tribes and German states |
| American success factors | Support from France and Spain, including war material, funds, and troops |
| British failure factors | Diplomatic isolation, inability to muster international support, and widespread antipathy towards Britain |
| American diplomatic actions | Sending envoys to Europe, particularly Benjamin Franklin to France |
| European support | France, Spain, Sweden, and Denmark |
| American goals | Obtaining recognition of independence, securing financial and material support, and negotiating peace |
| Impact of diplomacy | Helped shape the outcome of the war and the broader American Revolution |
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What You'll Learn
The Committee of Secret Correspondence
Diplomacy was a key component of the American Revolution. The Second Continental Congress, recognising the need for international support, established the Committee of Secret Correspondence in November 1775. The committee's primary role was to build international support for the American struggle for independence by communicating with sympathetic Britons and other Europeans.
The original members of the committee were Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison V, Thomas Johnson, John Jay, Robert Morris, and John Dickinson. Benjamin Franklin, a successful scientist, journalist, and politician with expertise in foreign affairs, was the most active member. Franklin used his connections in France and Spain to lobby for support for the rebellious colonists. He sent letters to Don Gabriel de Bourbon, a Spanish prince, and Americanophiles in France, to try to rally support for the American cause. Franklin also travelled to France to convince the French to forge an alliance with the United States and was a prominent figure in the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the revolution.
Other members of the committee were also actively involved in correspondence and negotiations. They wrote to Arthur Lee, a Virginian living in London, requesting that he determine the "disposition of foreign powers towards us" while emphasising the need for secrecy in their efforts. Lee, who frequently aided the committee, played a crucial role in influencing French support for the American cause. He provided the French playwright Beaumarchais, who was working as a secret French agent, with information about American successes. This led the French Foreign Minister, Charles Gravier, to provide the colonies with clandestine shipments of gunpowder and war materiel.
The committee's efforts extended beyond correspondence and included undercover operations, American propaganda campaigns, foreign intelligence gathering, and the development of a separate maritime unit. They also served as the "clearinghouse" for foreign communications with foreign countries. The committee's work laid the groundwork for formal alliances, such as the Treaty of Amity and Commerce signed with France in 1778, which provided decisive material, financial, and military support to the American cause.
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Benjamin Franklin's diplomacy in France
Diplomacy was central to the outcome of the American Revolution. The American colonies needed to secure international support to counter Great Britain's strategic, military, and manpower advantages. Benjamin Franklin, a founding father, played a crucial role in this regard. On October 26, 1776, Franklin, named an agent of a diplomatic commission by the Continental Congress, set sail from Philadelphia for France. His mission was to negotiate and secure a formal alliance and treaty with the French. Franklin's popularity in France, where he was celebrated in scientific and literary circles, bolstered support for the American cause.
Franklin's diplomatic achievements in France centred around three key aspects: the 1778 alliance with France, the 1783 peace treaty, and raising significant funds. The alliance with France was essential for the military and diplomatic success of the American War of Independence. Franklin, along with Arthur Lee and Silas Deane, signed the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance on February 6, 1778, formally declaring an alliance between the United States and France. This treaty guaranteed French aid, which was crucial for the eventual American victory over the British.
Franklin's diplomatic technique was notable for his understanding of the importance of relationship-building and adapting his approach to the cultural context. He recognised that simply marching up and issuing demands would not be effective. Instead, he advanced his diplomacy in a way that French society was prepared to accommodate, building relationships with influential officials and leveraging his popularity. This approach ultimately contributed to the success of his mission.
The 1783 peace treaty confirmed American independence, marking another significant achievement for Franklin. Additionally, he raised vast sums of money, largely on credit, amounting to billions in today's dollars. This financial support from the French royal government contributed to the onset of the French Revolution, as the burden of paying off the debt led King Louis XVI to convene the estates general, which had not been assembled since the time of his grandfather, Louis XIII.
In conclusion, Benjamin Franklin's diplomacy in France was instrumental in securing the support needed for the American Revolution. His achievements, including the alliance with France, the peace treaty, and financial support, contributed directly to the success of the American War of Independence and the broader American Revolution.
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The Treaty of Alliance with France
Diplomacy was central to the outcome of the American Revolution. The American colonies needed to conduct international diplomacy and seek international support to counter Great Britain's greater strategic, military, and manpower advantages.
The Treaty of Alliance was a defensive pact between the Kingdom of France and the United States against Great Britain. It stipulated that a military alliance would be formed if war broke out between France and Britain during the American Revolution. The combined military forces and efforts would serve the direct purpose of maintaining the "liberty, Sovereignty, and independence absolute and unlimited" of the United States. The treaty also included a secret clause allowing for Spain or other European powers to enter the alliance, which Spain did in 1779.
The Franco-American Treaty marked the official entry of the United States onto the world stage. It was the first formal recognition of U.S. independence, and French support was decisive in America's victory. The treaty also promoted trade between the two nations.
The Treaty of Alliance had long-lasting implications. After the French Revolution, there were questions about whether it created a perpetual alliance. While European powers considered the treaty nullified by the execution of Louis XVI, President George Washington declared it was still in effect. The treaty remained valid during the Quasi-War with France and was formally ended by the Convention of 1800.
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The Franco-Spanish Treaty of Aranjuez
Diplomacy was a key component of the American Revolution. The United States could only gain independence by attracting the support of Britain's enemies, France and Spain. In November 1775, Congress established the Committee of Secret Correspondence to communicate with potential supporters abroad. This committee sent Silas Deane to France in March 1776 and Arthur Lee became a "confidential correspondent" in London.
Spain had been providing covert aid to the American revolutionaries since 1775, and it officially declared war on Britain on 21 June 1779. The Spanish military leader Bernardo Vincente de Gálvez y Madrid, Count of Gálvez, played a crucial role in aiding the Americans with successful sieges against the British army in the Gulf Coast region and the Mississippi Valley.
The Treaty of Aranjuez had a significant impact on the war. It isolated Britain globally and provided the American forces with decisive war materials, funds, and troops. The Franco-Spanish alliance also helped reverse the losses of 1763, when Spain had lost Florida to Britain.
However, it is important to note that Spain refused to become formally involved in the American Revolutionary War. They did not join the Franco-American alliance of 1778 that guaranteed US independence. Instead, they focused on their global political strategy and territorial objectives, such as regaining control of Gibraltar, which remained under British rule despite significant Spanish efforts and investments.
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The First League of Armed Neutrality
The league's formation was a response to the British blockade of the rebels and their interference with neutral shipping suspected of aiding the American colonies. Empress Catherine II of Russia initiated the First League with her declaration of Russian armed neutrality on 11 March 1780 (28 February according to the Old Style calendar). Catherine's declaration endorsed the right of neutral countries to trade by sea with nationals of belligerent countries, except for weapons and military supplies. She invited other European nations to join Russia in arming merchant vessels to defend these rights.
The intention of the league was to group their ships into convoys and declare their cargoes as non-contraband. Spain, which was at war with Britain at the time, agreed to respect the league's neutrality. While Britain did not officially consider the league as hostile, it still interfered with their shipping. The Netherlands planned to join the league in January 1781, but Britain learned of this and declared war, capturing a ship carrying American diplomat Henry Laurens en route to Amsterdam.
The league's members remained officially out of the war but threatened joint retaliation for every ship of theirs searched by a belligerent power. Over time, the league gained more members, including Prussia, Austria, and Portugal in 1781, the Ottoman Empire in 1782, and the Two Sicilies in 1783. Despite the growing number of members, the league had minimal military effect due to the neutral European states' hesitancy to commit fully out of fear of British retaliation. The First League of Armed Neutrality ceased to function after the Treaty of Paris in 1783, which ended the American Revolution.
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Frequently asked questions
Diplomacy was essential for the survival of the United States during the American Revolution. Before the war, the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain attempted to resolve their disputes peacefully. However, once the war began, both sides engaged in foreign diplomacy to further their goals. The United States needed support from Europe to win, and Britain wanted to maintain European neutrality.
Benjamin Franklin played a crucial role in the American Revolution. In 1776, he was sent to Paris, becoming the first American Minister to be received by a foreign government. Franklin's diplomatic experience and skills helped secure fiscal and material support from France, which was integral to the success of the American Revolution.
The Franco-American alliance was significant as it was America's first and only alliance until the 20th century. The alliance provided America with the necessary war materials, funds, and troops, while also isolating Britain globally. France's support, particularly their naval fleet, played a decisive role in the Battle of Yorktown in 1781, which ended the war in America's favor.
