The French-American Alliance of 1778 { By Alyssa Mitchel Professor Taylor Columbus to Clinton: History 1776 Research Process The Treaty of Alliance: 1778 • France was influenced to join an alliance with the Americans because • Victory of the Battle of Saratoga • Sought revenge against Britain • May 2, 1776 Louis XVI provided economic aid for Americans while John Adams began drafting a commercial treaty of alliance • February 1778: Two treaties were signed • Amity and Commerce • Alliance • As an ally of France, Spain joined the war in June 1779 The Initial Failures • • • • • • • • The Battle of Newport: Admiral Comte D’Estaing and General Sullivan Distraction—Admiral Richard Lord Howe Hurricane D’Estaing had to leave to Boston for repairs General Sullivan--forced to abandon the fight • Attacks D’Estaing with accusations The Battle of Savannah: D’Estaing and his army approached Savannah before American General Benjamin Lincoln arrived Requested British forces to surrender British didn’t surrender but instead won the battle only losing 120 soldiers compared to the loss and injuires of The Siege of Yorktown-1781 Thesis Draft Although the Treaty of Alliance of 1778 led to America’s official independence from Britain in the 1783 Treaty of Paris, this would not have been possible without the alliance’s initial failures. While Americans held the belief that they had all of the knowledge and experience to win the war, their allies believed that the colonists needed French support as France had a reputable military history. Therefore, after many disagreements, military leaders learned to trust and depend on each other, which led to the victory in Yorktown. Evidence: • Comparing and contrasting war efforts in the Battles of Newport and Savannah to Yorktown • Transformation of military leaders • Development of Strategies Bibliography Books: Lengel, Edward. General George Washington: A Military Life. New York: Random House, Incorporated. 2005. Print. Morgan, Edmund S. The Birth of the Republic: 1763-89. Third Edition. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. 1992. Print. Peer Reviewed Articles: Lee Ann Potter, “Rough journal page documenting ratification and final page of the Treaty of Paris, 1783,” Social Education 72.5 (2008); 272-277 Ronald E. Huzzard, “George Washington’s Primer For Multinational Operations: Overlooked Keys to the French-American Victory at Yorktown,” Department of Joint Military Operations (2004); ii-B-3. Websites: "Siege of Savannah." Son of the South, 2008. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http:// www.sonofthesouth.net/revolutionary-war/battles/savannah.htm>. "Forming Alliances." The Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary. Franklin & Marshall College, The Phillips Museum of Art, 2008. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. <http://www.benfranklin300.org/ exhibition/_html/5_3/index.htm>.