Securing Independence, Defining Nationhood, 1776-1788

From 1st December 1776 to September 3, 1783, when the Treaty of Paris was signed by Benjamin Franklin who was an envoy of the most prestigious Continental Congress, first negotiated and then cultivated the alliance with France. The development of an alliance took place between the French and Local American Army that strived to collect the dividends of military victory. The talks were held between the warring parties until the sign of peace that proved to be beneficial for the country and the community of nations. The success of Franklin during this prolonged period of, patient diplomatic, activity witnessed more security, but the trial remained flawless. All the people who participated were considered equal among the other American commissioners. It certainly showed that Franklin was appointed sole minister on September 14, 1778, after Conrad-Alexandre Gerard, Ambassador of France in Philadelphia, had explained to Congress that this choice would best meet the expectations of French. Meanwhile, he reckoned with teammates whose names Arthur Lee and John Adams were suspicious and jealous of the influence of their elder to let it win easily as a playmaker. It created an adverse effect so much that the American Legation sometimes ended up looking for the house of Atreus. (Alsop, pp. 27-51)

The man, who moved to the hotel of Hamburg, University Street, at the end of December 1776 fortunately, had an unparalleled advantage. He arrived in Paris preceded by a tremendous reputation. The French intelligence officials had accustomed the public to consider that it was all himself the embodiment of what America had produced the best in both scientific and, engineering methods. It was such that the new man dreamed of the great minds of the Century Enlightenment. He indeed became a true object of worship, exposed to the people who became his fans. This broad awareness, carefully cultivated, was an asset for a first-class ambassador. She opened the doors of institutions especially the most prestigious Academy of Science and including Royal Society of Medicine. (Augur, pp. 57- 90)

Franklin began his mission in an auspicious manner but the game became a foregone conclusion, since people likened the cause of America to that of humanity were often pacifists and idealists were in no hurry to see France embroiled in a conflict. However, this reluctance was also observable in the case of approaches towards Spain. France did not prevent the measure of the importance of trade benefits that it could withdraw from an open alliance with the nascent American republic beyond even this economic aspect, particularly in Versailles that saw the Anglo-American take an opportunity for taking a sweet revenge against the proud Albion. The two Bourbon monarchies were humiliated in 1763 by the Treaty of Paris as France had more power than Spain, as England delighted the supremacy in the hierarchy of powers. The lowering of England in the last seven years war, become one of the main objects, of French diplomacy, and, it seemed to be the best way to ...