
America'S First Ally
France in the Revolutionary War
Norman Demarais(Author)
Casemate Publishers
Published on 27. June 2019
Book
Hardback
312 pages
978-1-61200-701-4 (ISBN)
Description
This is a comprehensive look at how France influenced the American Revolutionary War in a variety of ways; intellectually, financially, and militarily. It raises the crucial question of whether America could have won its independence without the aid of France.
The book begins with an overview of the intellectual and ideological contributions of the French Enlightenment thinkers, called the philosophes, to the American and French revolutions. It then moves to cover the many forms of aid provided by France to support America during the Revolutionary War. This ranged from the covert aid France supplied America before her official entry into the war, to the French outfitters and merchants who provided much-needed military supplies to the Americans. When the war began, the colonists thought the French would welcome an opportunity to retaliate and regain their country. France also provided naval assistance, particularly to the American privateers who harassed British shipping and contributed to the increased shipping rates which added to Great Britain's economic hardships. France's military involvement in the war was equally as important.
America's First Ally looks at the contributions of individual French officers and troops, arguing that America could not have won without them. Desmarais explores the international nature of a war which some people have called the first world war. When France and Spain entered the conflict, they fought the Crown forces in their respective areas of economic interest. In addition to the engagements in the Atlantic Ocean, along the American and European coasts and in the West Indies, there are accounts of action in India and the East Indies, South America and Africa.
Also included are accounts drawn from ships' logs, court and auction records, newspapers, letters, diaries, journals, and pension applications.
The book begins with an overview of the intellectual and ideological contributions of the French Enlightenment thinkers, called the philosophes, to the American and French revolutions. It then moves to cover the many forms of aid provided by France to support America during the Revolutionary War. This ranged from the covert aid France supplied America before her official entry into the war, to the French outfitters and merchants who provided much-needed military supplies to the Americans. When the war began, the colonists thought the French would welcome an opportunity to retaliate and regain their country. France also provided naval assistance, particularly to the American privateers who harassed British shipping and contributed to the increased shipping rates which added to Great Britain's economic hardships. France's military involvement in the war was equally as important.
America's First Ally looks at the contributions of individual French officers and troops, arguing that America could not have won without them. Desmarais explores the international nature of a war which some people have called the first world war. When France and Spain entered the conflict, they fought the Crown forces in their respective areas of economic interest. In addition to the engagements in the Atlantic Ocean, along the American and European coasts and in the West Indies, there are accounts of action in India and the East Indies, South America and Africa.
Also included are accounts drawn from ships' logs, court and auction records, newspapers, letters, diaries, journals, and pension applications.
Reviews / Votes
This insightful and clearly written account examines the idea from many different angles, foregrounding the various financial, ideological, and military influences that France had on the outcome of America's cataclysmic Revolutionary War. * Military History Matters (Book Reviews) 08/08/2019 *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Illustrations
20 black and white illustrations and maps
Dimensions
Height: 228 mm
Width: 152 mm
ISBN-13
978-1-61200-701-4 (9781612007014)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
11/2020
Casemate
€18.18
Available for download
Person
Norman Desmarais is Professor Emeritus at Providence College and an active reenactor. He is a member of Le Regiment Bourbonnais, the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment and the Brigade of the American Revolution. He is editor-in-chief of The Brigade Dispatch and the author of a number of titles on the Revolutionary War.