Foreign Influence of

the American Revolution: A True World

War

By Ryan Fan

The American RevolutionIn 1775, the Thirteen Colonies of

America entered a war with Great Britain, a conflict that would forever change the course of human history. After eight grueling years of fighting and struggles, the then oppressed and unfairly treated colonies would win their independence and eventually establish the most powerful and influential nation in the world.

A Wrong NameThe “American” Revolutionary War, as it is known to the

world today, was indeed a military conflict between the Thirteen Colonies and Britain, but that is only half the story.

Little known is the fact that this war, seen as a heroic tale of a lone underdog’s defiance of authority, was actually a joint conflict fought officially with three other nations and unofficially by many others in all parts of the world.

The American Revolution was only one part of this world war, as it gave birth to the Antilles War, the Second Anglo-Dutch War, and numerous others.

ObjectivesObjective #1: Identify which countries played a

role in the American Revolutionary War

Objective #2: Explain why foreign countries wanted to help the Americans fight against the British

Objective #3: Describe the effects of European assistance

The Countries (1778-1783)

France

Netherlands

Germany

India

Spain

Spanish America

Poland

FranceAfter the American victory of the Battle of Saratoga in 1778, the Kingdom

of France became the first foreign country to ally themselves with the Thirteen American Colonies against the British and officially join the war.

After years of diplomacy with Americans such as Benjamin Franklin and secretly providing supplies and arms to the colonies during the Revolution, the country signed the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce on Feb. 6, 1778.

The French supplied the Americans with many troops and a much needed navy to match that of the powerful British fleet.

Marquis de Lafayette, a decorated general of the French Army, joined the Revolutionary cause and became close friends with George Washington.

The French also played a major role in the Battle of Yorktown, where its army and navy surrounded and trapped the entire British Army at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively allowing them to win the war.

France (cont.)Why They Fought: France has

long since been enemies with Britain. Especially bitter after their massive loss in the French and Indian War, France looked towards the American Revolutionary War as a way to punish England.

Other Information: Less than a decade after the Treaty of Paris (1783) the victory of the American Colonies, Marquis de Lafayette, inspired by his experiences in the American Revolution, rebelled against and overthrew the corrupt royal government of France. The new government was established as a republic.

A painting of those attending the Treaty of Paris (1783); the British

refused to pose.

SpainThe Kingdom of Spain joined the war in 1779 soon

after its ally France declared its open support for American independence. Like France, it had secretly provided support for the Americans, but did not officially join the war until they believed the colonies could win.

Why They Fought: Spain had its own resentment against the British like most of the other countries it had allied itself with, but the major reason Spain joined the war was to gain back Florida which they had lost during the French and Indian War to Britain. After the American victory, Florida was returned the Spain.

Spanish AmericaSpain’s colonies in the America’s also played a role in the American

Revolution, and were officially at war against Britain as a part of Spain.

While countries such as France and Spain spread the conflict from the Thirteen Colonies to Europe, Spanish forces in the Americas spread the war into the Caribbean. This put a large strain on Britain’s troops, as they could no longer focus on fighting in one area.

Even before Spain declared war, Bernardo de Gálvez, the governor of Louisiana, provided American forces in the South with money and ammunition, as well as giving American ships safe harbor in New Orleans. This would later allow for Spanish and American attacks on British forts from the Gulf of Mexico to the Mississippi River.

In the Spanish colony of Cuba, a group of rich women known as “Havana’s Ladies” gave the Continental Army 7 million dollars, precious money that was very important in the funding of the army.

The NetherlandsThe third and final country in Europe to declare war on

Britain was the Dutch Republic in 1780. After years of trading and supplying goods to America, the country fought alongside the Americans, French, and Spanish to defeat the British. While they were not particularly active in the war, the Dutch was able to keep the British navy occupied in Europe instead of America.

Why they fought: Britain, afraid that the Dutch's extensive trade with the Americans was secretly providing military supplies and money, captured Dutch ships and overseas settlements. In response, The Netherlands declared the Fourth Anglo-Dutch war and announced their alliance with the American colonies.

GermanyGermany, a then state of the Holy Roman Empire,

had no official role in the American Revolutionary War, but it did play a part through its people who fought for both sides of the war in America.

At the beginning of the war, the British sought help from the country’s people, hiring thousands of German mercenaries known as the Hessians to fight the Americans. Many of these soldiers were defeated at the American surprise attack on Trenton the day after Christmas, 1776.

Baron von Steuben, a famous German commander who served in the Prussian Army, allied himself with the Americans. As a former leader of one of the most powerful armies in the world at the time, he trained soldiers of the Continental Army during their stay at Valley Forge.

A memorial statue of Baron von

Steuben in Valley Forge today.

PolandPoland, similar to Germany, did not officially do anything to support

the Americans, but many of its people were inspired with the revolutionary ideals of Americans such as George Washington.

Volunteers went to America to fight against the British forces, several of whom made vital contributions to the war effort.

Thaddeus Kosciusko, a Polish engineer, built fortifications for American military forts.

Casimir Pulaski, a noble and soldier of the Polish army, fought and trained cavalry troops for the Americans. He was known to have saved George Washington’s life, and later died in the war.

Polish soldiers who fought in the war would later lead the rebellion against Imperial Russia who had taken control of the country.

IndiaFighting between French, Dutch,

and British colonies in India broke out after hearing of France’s declaration of open military support of the Americans.

Battles and sieges took place throughout the Indian continent, and further aid for the French from Indian rebels forced Britain to send troops to India and defend its land.

At the end of the American Revolution, all the land conquered was returned to its former owners, and no lasting effects were left in the area.

A map of the Second Anglo-Mysore War, the conflict caused by the

Revolution in America.

The End of the War

Objective #1 Answer Objective #1: Identify which countries played a role in

the American Revolutionary War

Objective #1 Answer: France, Spain, and The Netherlands (Dutch Republic) officially joined the war as allies of the Americans, providing supplies, troops, and money to fight against the British. Spain's colonies in North America and the Caribbean such as Cuba and Louisiana also provided support for the Americans, and volunteers from Germany and Poland assisted in the cause. In the final stages of the war, battles were even fought between European colonies in India.

Objective #2 AnswerObjective #2: Explain why foreign countries wanted to

help the Americans fight against the British

Objective #2 Answer: Most of the European nations that joined the war felt resentment against the British for loss in previous conflicts. The French especially wanted to punish the British because of their massive loss in the French and Indian War, and Spain wanted to gain back Florida which they had given to the British after the same war. Many of the volunteers from other nations felt inspired by the revolutionary cause, and sent help for the Americans to win the war.

Objective #3 AnswerObjective #3: Describe the effects of European assistance

Objective #3 Answer: Many historians agree that the Americans could have never emerged victorious without European assistance. British forces were spread thin because of fighting in other parts of the world, and could no longer focus its efforts entirely on the Thirteen Colonies. Much of the money and supplies donated to the Americans kept them fighting at many crucial moments in the war, and the French navy fought against the powerful British fleet which the Americans were previously helpless against. The French also played a major role in the American victory at the Battle of Yorktown, which effectively ended the war. In 1783, the second Treaty of Paris was signed, establishing The United States of America as a new country. The war would later influence other government revolutions in France, Poland, and Latin America.

ThemeForeign influence in the American Revolutionary War fits the

unit themeof Nationalism for several reasons:1. Before the entry of other nations in support of the

American cause, spirits of colonists were low because of numerous losses in the war and no sign of progress. However, the success after the alliance with other countries prompted many colonists to regain faith in the war.

2. As one of the major contributing factors in American victory, the final result of American nationalism, independence, would never be achievable.

3. Many of the soldiers and volunteers who traveled to America decided to stay in the country after the American victory, becoming proud of both their old and new homes and fighting in future American wars.