Americans today have a love/hate relationship with France; but in How the French Saved America Tom Shachtman shows that without France; there might not be a United States of America.To the rebelling colonies; French assistance made the difference between looming defeat and eventual triumph. Even before the Declaration of Independence was issued; King Louis XVI and French foreign minister Vergennes were aiding the rebels. After the Declaration; that assistance broadened to include wages for our troops; guns; cannon; and ammunition; engineering expertise that enabled victories and prevented defeats; diplomatic recognition; safe havens for privateers; battlefield leadership by veteran officers; and the army and fleet that made possible the Franco-American victory at Yorktown. Nearly ten percent of those who fought and died for the American cause were French. Those who fought and survived; in addition to the well-known Lafayette and Rochambeau; include François de Fleury; who won a Congressional Medal for valor; Louis Duportail; who founded the Army Corps of Engineers; and Admiral de Grasse; whose sea victory sealed the fate of Yorktown. This illuminating narrative history vividly captures the outsize characters of our European brothers; their battlefield and diplomatic bonds and clashes with Americans; and the monumental role they played in America’s fight for independence and democracy.
#6762770 in Books 2013-09-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.69 x .22 x 7.44l; .45 #File Name: 1236701062106 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Poorly organizedBy BarbSueHThe format of the book is awful. I just wanted to read some of his letters to Josephine without all the weird formatting; many reference and endless footnotes. Hard to wade through to read the actual letters.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. NiceBy Love2ReadThis was a nice read; but sometimes confusing. The writer's style was okay; but the written format was more college paperish than novel ready.
