When we think of the Revolutionary War, many of us think of Minutemen, Paul Revere’s ride, and the momentous battles of Lexington and Concord. We recall the iconic figures of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, and heroic soldiering. However, what is often overlooked is the diplomatic and international context of the war.
It was the Revolutionary War that ultimately determined whether the Thirteen Colonies would be part of the British Empire or become an independent nation. To understand the Revolutionary War in its full context, it’s important to recognize the diplomatic and international events, influences, and alliances that shaped the final result.
The Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain
The American Revolution started with the Thirteen Colonies and the tensions that arose between them and Britain. By the 1760s, Britain controlled all of modern-day Canada and most of the East Coast. The British government had instituted the Stamp Act of 1765, which placed a hefty tax on the colonies’ paper-based products. British officials then passed the Townsend Acts in 1767, which placed a number of other taxes on items imported to the colonies such as printed materials, wine, and other licensed items. In response, the colonies enacted the non-importation agreements and boycotts in an attempt to convince Great Britain to repeal the acts. This established an ever-increasing tension between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain and provided a rocky footing for the coming war.
The British Impact on the Native Americans
The Thirteen Colonies weren’t the only ones with issues for the growing Revolution. The British also had several treaty and land agreements with the Native American tribes. Trying to maintain good will, the British government provided smaller amounts of money and goods, unsuccessfully attempting to keep the Native Americans loyal.
In addition, many European nations wanted to control the continent’s fur trade, as well as the water routes. The British were, however, the most successful in attempting to control the American East Coast. This attempt would eventually lead to the French and Indian War of 1754-1763.
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War was a major factor in the event that led European powers to be deeply divided between sides with the American Revolution. This war was, truly, the precursor to the Revolutionary War. The war started over unsettled land boundaries and because of the French expansion into the Ohio River territory. This conflict lasted from 1754–1763 and ended with the Paris Treaty. At the conclusion of the war, Britain gained ownership of all of the American East Coast.
The Boston Tea Party
One major protest came in 1773 with the famous Boston Tea Party. In order to protest the taxes imposed by the British, the Boston Tea Party was initiated by colonial radicals who threw a shipload of tea into the harbor, mirroring a protest back in England. This made the struggle with the British to repeal the long-established taxes even louder and increased the tension between England and the Thirteen Colonies.
The Revolutionary War
The American Revolution officially started with the battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. The British army and navy fought hard against the Continental Army and their allies, the French. After a brutal seven-year struggle, the Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783, and granted the newly formed United States of America their independence from Britain.
International Alliances in the Revolutionary War
Going into the Revolutionary War, the colonies of America had no official allies. Through several diplomatic channels, the colonies started to align with France. France had also been fighting with Britain since the French and Indian War and would continue to fight them until the end of the Revolutionary War.
The French saw a chance to weaken the British in America and supplied the Continental Army with money, weapons, equipment, and troops. During this period France and Spain even went so far as to declare war on Great Britain in 1779, while other European nations such as the Dutch were also providing assistance to the colonies. The assistance was instrumental to the eventual victory of the colonies.
The Role of the Spanish
The Spanish were also important in the fight against Britain as they were a key ally to the colonies. At the start of the war, Spain declared war on Britain. Along with supplying weapons and money, the Spanish also assisted the Continental Army with troops, ships, and weapons.
During the Revolutionary War, the Spanish sent forces to Dauphin Island, Fort Moultrie, and to assist the Continental Navy. The Spanish also helped to equip and supply many of the vessels in the Continental Navy.
The Impact of the Revolutionary War
When the war officially ended with the adoption of the Treaty of Paris, the new United States of America was firmly established. This significant political change shook Europe and changed the geopolitical landscape for many.
Without the assistance of foreign allies, the Revolutionary War would have been much different. International diplomacy was integral in obtaining the independence of the colonies.
The American Revolution was not only a fight between the Thirteen Colonies and Great Britain, but also the diplomacy and influence of numerous European countries. Through international treaties, government support, and ground troops, the American Revolution changed the political balance in Europe and had lasting impacts on the world. Without this assistance, it is unclear how the American colonies would have fared in the Revolutionary War.
The Diplomatic and International Context of the Revolutionary War provides us with an important perspective on the many factors that went into the fight for American independence and the lasting effects of that accomplishment.
