Benjamin Franklin: Paris & the Revolution, 1775-78

At the start of the American Revolution, the Continentals are desperate for financial aid and important military supplies like gunpowder and muskets. Without these materials, which cannot not be manufactured in the quantities needed in the 13 colonies, the revolution is doomed to failure. The fate of the war, and the existence of the United States, rests on the ability to procure these supplies as much as Washington’s ability to succeed on the battlefield.

France, Britain’s oldest and most steadfast rival, is a natural candidate to aid the Colonists. Unfortunately for the Americans, in 1776 France and Britain are enjoying a rare peace, and Congress therefore needs a skilled diplomat in Paris with the ability to persuade the French to support, at least secretly, the American Revolution...

This episode in our American Revolution Series details Benjamin Franklin's critical role in securing vital war materials, aid, and ultimately an alliance with the ancien régime in Paris.

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History Rebels: welcome to our series on the American Revolution. Join us as we explore the key battles, strategies, and politics that led to the birth of a nation!

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Credits:
Some animations taken from www.vecteezy.com

Filmstro | Create custom royalty-free music in minutes https://filmstro.com/

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:25 Arrival in Paris

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Notable Sources:
Benjamin Franklin, An American Life, Walter Isaacson
A little Revenge, William Randall
The First American, H.W. Brands
Benjamin Franklin in Paris, Thomas Fleming
American Revolutions: A Continental History, Alan Taylor


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