France and the American Revolution

Fourth of July is an American holiday, right? Bien sur! Americans and the French fought together to make our independence a reality. Who is America's oldest friend and ally? Stumped? Some Americans are surprised to learn that the name of that country is France. American history does not give the French enough credit for their part in the Revolution. Our history pretty much only includes the French at Yorktown. This battle won it all and it was a French plan and a French victory that helped us win our freedom. This hub gives info on just how much France helped us during the war.

Marquis de Lafayette:

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier Lafayette was born on September 6, 1757, in the castle of Chavagna, which is in the province of Auvergne. Lafayette's family has been well respected for over three centuries by French historians. Not only was he a general in the Revolution, but he was also a leader of the Garde Nationale during the French Revolution. Lafayette worked as a page for queen Marie Leczinska, and she helped him obtain his commission as a lieutenant in the ranks of the royal musketeers. He had been commissioned as a captain of artillery in the regiment that was staying in Metz. It was in Metz, in the latter part of 1776, that Lafayette attended a dinner and met George III's brother, the Duke of Glouchester, and heard about the Declaration of Independence and all the horrendous things happening in the 13 colonies. It was at this dinner that Lafayette decided to join the Americans against the British. Great ideas of liberty and freedom were taking place in France at the time, thus making the French sympathetic to the American cause. Many young French officers wanted to go to war for America because the French had a score to settle with the British. Louis XVI didn't want anything to do with the Revolution at first because he thought that the Americans should obey King George III. His foreign minister wanted a chance to shame the British and this proved to be the right time to strike. Marie Antoinette would come to approve of this policy and it would greatly benefit the Americans.

The Policy of Choiseul:

Etienne Francois duc de Choiseul was a French diplomat, statesman, and an officer in the military. His plan was to rebuild France and get even with the British. Choiseul did this by rebuilding the army in the years after the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The British had won the Seven Years' War and this didn't please the French at all. Choiseul sought the help of Spain in an attempt to invade Britain and drew up many a number of plans for an invasion. He added Corsica and Lorraine to the crown of France to make up for French territorial losses to the British. Choiseul would also try to add Guiana to the crown, but this failed. Marie Antoinette enjoyed this strategy immensely, and so did Count Vergennes, who was a foreign minister to Louis XVI. Vergennes persuaded Louis to secretly send aid to the Americans. The Count wanted to be sure of a clear military victory, so that France wouldn't be targeted by Great Britain for helping America if they lost. So the French started sending monetary support, ammunition and weapons to the colonies. The government sent this aid through Beaumarchais and it was done discretely, so that the French could appear to be oblivious of the whole thing.

Beaumarchais:

Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais was a diplomat, spy, watchmaker, inventor, musician, fugitive, publisher, arms dealer, and a French and American revolutionary. He is most famously known for writing the three Figaro plays. Beaumarchais founded a fake business called, Roderigue Hortalez and Company, in May of 1776. Beaumarchais had gone to Virginia, and discussed with businessman, Arthur Lee, how best to strike at Britain. After this meeting, Beaumarchais told the French government that by sending military aid to America, disguised as a loan, would be the best way to fund the war. So it was through this business that the colonies received aid. Spain also wanted revenge, but was only willing to help secretly, until they were sure of a clear victory. Beaumarchais was granted one million livres from France, and Spain matched that amount so he could start this business. Through this company, the colonies also received clothes and provisions, in addition to weapons. He dealt with Silas Deane, who was the acting member of the Second Continental Congress's Committee of Secret Correspondence.

French Soldiers who Fought for Independence:

French officers also began to flock to America. Names such as Pulaski, La Rouerie, and some fifty others. The Duke of Montmorency-Laval and other nobels had wanted to go and fight for the Americans, but the king refused. Louis XVI reprimanded them harshly because he had to keep up appearances and in no way wanted to appear to be helping the Americans. Casimir Pulaski was a soldier of Polish nobility and he saved the life of George Washington. He is only one of seven people ever to receive honorary US citizenship. He is also called the father of American cavalry. He was only 34 years old when he died of wounds suffered at the Battle of Savannah. Charles Armand Tuffin (marquis de la Rouerie) was born in April of 1751 and was a Breton cavalry officer. After the Battle of Yorktown, he became a brigadier general. He was also one of the early leaders of the Breton Association (the Chouannerie) of the French Revolution. The Chouannerie was a royalist uprising, in the twelve western departements of France. This uprising was mainly in the French provinces of Maine and Brittany because they wanted to keep absolute rule and didn't want a new French Republic that governed themselves.

Be sure to come back for part two of my hub on France and the American Revolution.