Britain and France at the Birth of America: The European Powers and the Peace Negotiations of 1782-1783
This is the first comprehensive study of the peace negotiations which ended the American War of Independence. It challenges traditional views and uses a wide range of sources to provide a detailed analysis of the treaties signed between Britain and France, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States. It shows that American independence, rather than being the important issue of the negotiations, was consistently subordinated to European balance of power considerations. The book demonstrates the importance of personality and popular prejudice in determining foreign policy, and new insights are offered into the personalities and objectives of the leading political figures of the time, including George III, Louis XVI, Benjamin Franklin, Lords Shelburne, Grantham and North, Charles James Fox, the Comte de Vergennes, John Jay, John Adams, Catherine the Great and Frederick the Great. The result is a significant study of eighteenth-century diplomatic and political history which overturns previously established views.
|
Contents
The Approach of Peace
|
11 |
The Birth of America
|
51 |
Shelburne Vergennes and the European Settlement
|
74 |
The Domestic Political Context
|
139 |
Fox and the 1783 Negotiations
|
177 |
Conclusion
|
203 |
Select Bibliography
|
254 |
Common terms and phrases
accept Adams agreed alliance allies allow already American independence appeared argued Armed attempt August Austrian believed Britain British Cabinet Castries claims colonies concerned concessions concluded confidence considerable continued Correspondence court December definitive demands desire discussions Dutch England envoys European fact failed favour February finances fishery Fitzherbert forced foreign policy Fox's France France's Franklin French George Gibraltar give given Grantham Hartley hopes ibid important India instructed interests January Joseph July June king later least letters Lord Lord Privy Seal Louis XVI March means mediation memoir military minister ministry Montmorin Morris negotiations Neutrality North noted November objectives obtained October offer Oswald Paris Parliament peace Peacemakers political possible preliminaries prevent Private proposal proved Rayneval Russia secretary seeking September 1782 settlement Shelburne Shelburne's sought Spain Spanish suggested trade treaty Vergennes Vergennes's Writing