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The French Navy and American Independence: A Study of Arms and Diplomacy, 1774-1787
Military history is an essential component of wartime diplomatic history, Jonathan R. Dull contends, and this belief shapes his account of the French navy as the means by which French diplomacy helped to win American independence. The author discusses the place of long-range naval requirements in the French decision to aid the American colonists, the part played by naval rivalry in the transition from limited aid to full-scale war, and the ways naval considerations affected French wartime diplomacy. His book focuses on military strategy and diplomatic requirements in a setting in which military officers themselves did not participate directly in decision-making, but in which diplomats had to take continual account of military needs.
Since military action is a means of accomplishing diplomatic goals, even military victory can prove hollow. The author examines the American war not as a successful exercise of French power, but rather as a tragic failure based on economic and political miscalculations. Among the questions he asks What relationship did the war bear to overall French diplomacy? What strains did the limited nature of the war impose on French diplomacy and war strategy? How did the results of the war relate to the objectives with which France entered the conflict?
Originally published in 1976.
The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
Since military action is a means of accomplishing diplomatic goals, even military victory can prove hollow. The author examines the American war not as a successful exercise of French power, but rather as a tragic failure based on economic and political miscalculations. Among the questions he asks What relationship did the war bear to overall French diplomacy? What strains did the limited nature of the war impose on French diplomacy and war strategy? How did the results of the war relate to the objectives with which France entered the conflict?
Originally published in 1976.
The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.
460 pages, Hardcover
First published February 24, 2015
About the author
Jonathan R. Dull
15 books4 followersJonathan R. Dull is the retired senior associate editor of The Papers of Benjamin Franklin series.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 12, 2014
The international aspects of the American Revolution tend to be ignored by American historians, with a few exceptions, of course.
Dull’s book is both a study of the French navy’s contribution to the war and the diplomacy between France, the American colonies, and Spain. Dull explores how the French came to the assistance of the rebelling colonies in violation of its earlier treaty obligations. One of Dull’s main arguments is that Saratoga has been exaggerated as a catalyst for French intervention in the war. Rather, the French feared that the Americans would make a separate peace with Britain and remain a part of the British empire. The French had begun preparations for war long before the American victory at Saratoga.
Dull also scrutinizes the common belief that Saratoga was the decisive factor in bringing France into the war. The French expanded their involvement at that point because tensions with Britain were becoming uncontrollable. Dull also argues that French intervention came about because the French were alarmed at the colonists' inability to defeat the main British army; not because of the Americans' defeat of a single army at Saratago.
Much of the book deals with diplomatic correspondence, with few vivid battle scenes and the like, but it is still quite an interesting read nevertheless.
Dull’s book is both a study of the French navy’s contribution to the war and the diplomacy between France, the American colonies, and Spain. Dull explores how the French came to the assistance of the rebelling colonies in violation of its earlier treaty obligations. One of Dull’s main arguments is that Saratoga has been exaggerated as a catalyst for French intervention in the war. Rather, the French feared that the Americans would make a separate peace with Britain and remain a part of the British empire. The French had begun preparations for war long before the American victory at Saratoga.
Dull also scrutinizes the common belief that Saratoga was the decisive factor in bringing France into the war. The French expanded their involvement at that point because tensions with Britain were becoming uncontrollable. Dull also argues that French intervention came about because the French were alarmed at the colonists' inability to defeat the main British army; not because of the Americans' defeat of a single army at Saratago.
Much of the book deals with diplomatic correspondence, with few vivid battle scenes and the like, but it is still quite an interesting read nevertheless.
November 20, 2024
Jonathan R Dull’s The French Navy and American Independence: A Study in Arms and Diplomacy is primarily a work of diplomatic history and grand strategy. The French Navy was immensely important in the United States succeeding in achieving independence through its contribution to the turning point at the battle of Yorktown. For France however this was just one theatre, albeit an important one and the starting point of the war, among half a dozen in a war that encompassed the globe.
Having only seen books focused either the United States or British perspective on the American war of independence it is refreshing to take a look at the French viewpoint. Dull does stick closely to this with other participant’s perspectives only coming into the book where required arising from interactions with France. This is particularly the case for France’s allies when determining working together on joint campaigns, primarily this means Spain.
If you are looking for battles this is not the book for you. Dull notes in the preface that he leaves that to the military historians, and he doesn't do it by halves; battles get a mention and a note of the consequences, but nothing on the action. Instead Dull takes us inside France’s Council of State as it plans the war; what are the intertwined threads of finance, logistics and shipbuilding, naval and military command, and diplomacy that they need to juggle? What are the goals and how will the council go about meeting them? These are the kind of questions this book is good at. This is done through a narrative that for the most part is chronological as the council of state would see it; this is the point at which an event will need to be reacted to. This has the advantage of immediacy for seeing the problems being faced but also it shows the complexity which can be difficult to follow when there are multiple ongoing campaigns and plans on the go at once.
Dull is perhaps not the most auspicious name for a writer. And this is very much an academic book so you don't really expect it to be exciting but Dull has made an effort to ensure it is not too academic and is of broad readability and interest. He notes in the preface that the first two thirds were written as a doctoral thesis which he has cut large amounts that was only of interest to those engaging in academic research on the subject.
There are a few maps; of the land around the bay of biscay, the windward islands, and the leeward islands. However that means we are missing half the theatres; India, North America, and Gibraltar/Western Med. For a book on grand strategy most useful would have been a global map clearly showing which state controlled what or marking the main naval bases.
An interesting book, though likely only for people who already have quite a considerable interest in 18th century navies, governance, or the American War of Independence.
Having only seen books focused either the United States or British perspective on the American war of independence it is refreshing to take a look at the French viewpoint. Dull does stick closely to this with other participant’s perspectives only coming into the book where required arising from interactions with France. This is particularly the case for France’s allies when determining working together on joint campaigns, primarily this means Spain.
If you are looking for battles this is not the book for you. Dull notes in the preface that he leaves that to the military historians, and he doesn't do it by halves; battles get a mention and a note of the consequences, but nothing on the action. Instead Dull takes us inside France’s Council of State as it plans the war; what are the intertwined threads of finance, logistics and shipbuilding, naval and military command, and diplomacy that they need to juggle? What are the goals and how will the council go about meeting them? These are the kind of questions this book is good at. This is done through a narrative that for the most part is chronological as the council of state would see it; this is the point at which an event will need to be reacted to. This has the advantage of immediacy for seeing the problems being faced but also it shows the complexity which can be difficult to follow when there are multiple ongoing campaigns and plans on the go at once.
Dull is perhaps not the most auspicious name for a writer. And this is very much an academic book so you don't really expect it to be exciting but Dull has made an effort to ensure it is not too academic and is of broad readability and interest. He notes in the preface that the first two thirds were written as a doctoral thesis which he has cut large amounts that was only of interest to those engaging in academic research on the subject.
There are a few maps; of the land around the bay of biscay, the windward islands, and the leeward islands. However that means we are missing half the theatres; India, North America, and Gibraltar/Western Med. For a book on grand strategy most useful would have been a global map clearly showing which state controlled what or marking the main naval bases.
An interesting book, though likely only for people who already have quite a considerable interest in 18th century navies, governance, or the American War of Independence.
June 13, 2024
A book not on naval or military history, but rather on diplomacy and the strategic interests of France in the 18th century, as well as the use of naval power to seek to achieve its objectives.
Jonathan R Dull has done a thorough research work in the archives, offers us solid information, covers the logistics of raw materials and the work required in the French arsenals, as well as the good and bad performances of the French, British and Spanish admirals.
Finally, an analysis of the peace negotiations and the performance of the American, English, Spanish and French protagonists.
Important conclusion of the book: although France achieved the objective of obtaining American independence, it did not weaken Great Britain, and the economic costs that the French will bear will have an impact on the triggering of the French Revolution.
The problem with the book is the way it presents the facts, I don't blame the author here, the problem is more with the publisher and perhaps with the practices of the year (1975) it was printed.
Jonathan R Dull has done a thorough research work in the archives, offers us solid information, covers the logistics of raw materials and the work required in the French arsenals, as well as the good and bad performances of the French, British and Spanish admirals.
Finally, an analysis of the peace negotiations and the performance of the American, English, Spanish and French protagonists.
Important conclusion of the book: although France achieved the objective of obtaining American independence, it did not weaken Great Britain, and the economic costs that the French will bear will have an impact on the triggering of the French Revolution.
The problem with the book is the way it presents the facts, I don't blame the author here, the problem is more with the publisher and perhaps with the practices of the year (1975) it was printed.
July 16, 2017
As the sub-title says - A Study of Arms and Diplomacy. Thoroughly researched and a good read.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews