The American Revolution
The costs of the Seven Years War and the role of the American colonies in its prosecution were the seeds of the American Revolution. As Great Britain exercised its control over the colonies to raise taxes to defray the cost of the war and the continuing defense of the colonies the Americans resisted its efforts. The absolute monarchy of Louis XVI in France followed the deteriorating relationship between Great Britain and the Americans with interest, not because of its support for the position of the Americans, but because of the potential for France to recover much of the prestige lost following the recent war.
From the outset of hostilities French officials saw an opportunity to cripple Great Britain. The French foreign minister, the Comte de Vergennes, was a bitter enemy of Great Britain, believing it to be the “natural enemy” of France. Vergennes contacted Pierre Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, a French playwright and polymath, who went to London where he received a letter from the American Arthur Lee. The letter, from the American Congress, requested French military assistance in the form of weapons and financial aid. After Vergennes and Louis XVI agreed, Beaumarchais established the sham company of Hortalez et Cie.
Before the Americans announced their independence from Great Britain French military goods were being shipped to the rebels through the company. At the same time Louis XVI continued his already begun buildup of French military and naval strength. The French shipments, which were sent through neutral ports, included critical supplies of gunpowder, without which the Continental Army would have been unable to continue to resist. French ports also welcomed the American privateers, and served as the maritime court for the sale of their prizes. British spies swarmed throughout France, and many of the activities were soon known to the British, but they took no action, not wanting France in the war.
It is often written that the American victory at Saratoga was what led the French to agree to an alliance, but it is less well known that up to 90% of the war materials which supplied the American army during the Saratoga campaign came from covert French shipments. The expense became burdensome and Vergennes made the decision to suspend the aid when news of Burgoyne’s surrender of his entire Army led the King to order an alliance between France and the United States. The rebuilt French fleet immediately began confronting British ships, and the financial losses to British merchants and shipping interests mounted.
France’s support of the American cause had nothing to do with the republican spirit which led to America’s Declaration of Independence. It was entirely based on the opportunity to weaken the British Empire. The belief that the loss of the American colonies would financially cripple England led to French intervention. In the end the French gained little from the war, and England strengthened its positions in India and elsewhere. The French treasury was devastated, and the victories it had helped win in America led to an increase in republican spirit in France, exacerbated by famine and privation on the continent. The American Revolution was born of the rivalry between Britain and France, nurtured by it, and eventually fed it further.