Program. On behalf of our community partner. It is my pleasure to introduce tonights author tom shackman we could not be more thrilled to host tom as he discusses his new book how the french saved america. The soldiers, sailors, diplomats in the success of a revolution. Financial support and the Marquis Lafayette were only parts of frances contribution to americas success against england. And how the french saved america he makes a convincing case that without france the night seats may never had gained its independence. To the rebelling colonies in the french assistance the aide however is often downplayed in historys retelling of the event as we often like to think of our forefathers as having achieved independence all by themselves. After the declaration of independence that assistance that included the wages for our troops guns, cannon and ammunition engineering expertise that enabled victories and prevented defeat diplomatic recognition. Taught at the York University and lectured at harvard and stanford. Chairman and a trustee at the committees counsel and a founding director at the heritage area and is a consultant at the foundation of science and technology initiative. It is a pleasure to have him with us this evening, our esteemed guest, tom shachtman. [applause] good evening. Thanks for coming. Everybody has heard everything that needs to be said. This is the title of the book i will open from john adams from his son benjamin. Only one continued from one end to the other the essence of the whole is from general washington they conducted all policy negotiations. In to be included is a paean the on. P. In the on the line here to tell you and theyre all french. Is the history of the of love affair. And it starts here on a cold and snowy december evening. And founded the company and they are walking through philadelphia december 1775. And coming over at staggered times because they may be accused of treason. One is Francis David who is the librarian and another is a mysterious stranger he is 28 but looks 62 and theres all sorts of things wrong with him. In den with of getting to know you message. So the message is number one france wishes america well. That is pretty good. And of number two American Investments are welcome in the french quarters. But the third one is the kicker but france does not want canada back. But today we know why but nobody knew that at the time. Except franklin who thought they really wanted it back. So he tells a number of lives including the size of the American Forces in there so excited by this he writes home it is those to be in secret code he forgot about it provincially the message gets back to her side versify france and this is for the french government comes in and. In the hands of this young gentleman he doesnt look that young he is only 21. This is louis the 16 he is dead on the road about 18 months since his father louis the 15 died. And his air he was married at 16 to a young lady gave notice Marie Antoinette and still they have not figured out but knew he should have an elder statesman as a career diplomat especially that was not the mobility but you could buy your ability that way you dont have to have for generations of forbearers. But they got along very well. With a policy objective which is the power of Great Britain they dont know quite how much that is the war called the seven years war but the best way to have british power to the american rebels but then the french, and is a piece of cake. And then to get in touch with this man. It has written that but the music master at versailles in undoes all these things together. Because he used to be a music master. In three years i will give you 9 million. With the fake spanish name company. And with those five sale prices. With rice and indigo that they had to buy from Great Britain. But they said they will do this says this is taking place, six months before the declaration of independence. Under the portrait of general washington opposite boston. So the declaration of independence has not yet been issued. Is a tremendous victory but they are ready to go and ready to start. But then they convinced the king of spain for those that our ready to go they are from down the road as an International Trader and a friend of franklins and they had gotten together. And then theyre there to buy things for the indians. But really there to get munitions for the americans with the declaration of independence. Because it was not written at the time that they left. But i have to say this is one of the most important vessels during the American Revolution and. To have 52 cannon with some ammunition with shovels and blankets what you might want to. So there were 10 ships that day put together many from of caribbean to machines remissions. And some went to the United States. And when they arrived the spring of 1777 that was exactly what they were waiting for. There were more on the ship and the entire American Army at the point. It was a big deal. This is 76. Nobody has come from anywhere yet. Just born a month or two earlier, after washington had his wonderful success and was beaten up, this is a map of the British Forces that everybody knew that they would try to attack your candidates did. Washington was ready but not really with a tremendous battle that lasted almost six weeks and eventually ended by evacuating his forces through manhattan supposedly he was having a bad timing continue to have a bad time through the end a 1776. Where his forces are almost out of money and food and clothing and ammunition washingtons forces are near the delaware bin he has got to do something. For the forces will to solve that the end of the year and if they do that who knows what will happen . So he crosses the river known as the Delaware River to the of british out of trenton to make a tremendous military victory that save the country. At the same time washington is crossing the delaware. And coming up from the south. Sixtynine or 70 years old she has is he has is too young grandsons with him. With kidney stones you name it. That is coming across with a great revolutionary but decides that this time. And from my previous book will not address and fine clothes. Including the wonderful coonskin cap. So about the time washington is crossing the delaware he sees his old friend so they stated that we are hereby to have an alliance. And then we will talk. They sat there for one year for negotiations began. Because in the spring and summer of 1777 there are two things that are going on. Coming down from canada the first thing is ticonderoga to come down in meet the forces to come up from the south to the north. In with these radical people they are willing to negotiate in the war will be over. So that is simple. Right . And then to be welltrained in both places now recall that the battle of saratoga. There were two bottles. Not one. So the American General gates to capture the entire army. He was is a shot at. And then he was already injured in a previous battle. But they were successful and capture the entire army. The biggest thing to happen in the revolutionary war at that time. Using those flex engineers. Analysts at the same time at Brandywine Creek under general powell so as you can see in this wonderful illustration to see the officer he is the only one wearing a uniform. Event in particular and supposedly that his firm Brandywine Creek. Oh there were some front officers. And they were wonderful. And they had nothing from these officers to make sure that they simply did not run off. So that the unit stayed intact. They were not best buddies at this point. But washington had a chest a test that they had to do two things. They had to be brave in battle in be good on the field. Second, take one for the team. So with this battle lafayette mission drew both. Managed to do both. So now he notices it over nine more miles to understand that is another hour or more. With a young man named james monroe but he is gainfully employed at that time. To say take care of them as if he were your son. And another battle after brandywine that nobody knows about who knows about the battle called mud island . That is between philadelphia on either side of the delaware. And he understands to be resupplied from the sea and then washington called on those engineers i know them but general historians that quarrel flynn colonel flynn and then there was another and they were perhaps the two best trained men for these jobs and were in battle working with the retreat of brandywine so washington could trust him. To rebuild of those things. They pretty much takeover and they are bombarded. Some ships that they already have in the harbor in this is how you could imagine if not they would attempt to repair the damage. But he got a medal for Something Else to years later with the battle of stony point right next to west point. It is a famous battle it was almost insignificant but congress decided after what is called of medal of honor and for what you did see on the diagram and on the lefthand panel you see the colonel in uniform of the british side. We know because this is still in commission with the American Army corps of engineer. He is the chief engineer all of the officers have come from france in day cave officially and then were chosen by the french government and then became a very close confidante. And then to squash some stupid idea is. And then to fall to philadelphia. And basically he said to washington named after the roman general. And then to cut the supply line. Those that are fighting the defensive for. If you dont lose you will win. Not to adopt the strategy then it is safe to say for everything you do after the war with the army corps of engineers and the curriculum for west point. When they are finishing up at valley forge. The negotiations they were finished in three weeks they gave the americans almost everything that they wanted. This is actually almost of miniature with franklin in the 16th signing the treaty because it was secret after they declared war on france. And then they had a single engagement and then jews celebrate and then to have the women have a new hairdo. Very successful probe meanwhile having this border full ball in the center this cartoon is america trying to mood defeat the british. It changes the british of a philadelphia. Then he is standing there and then it is called sandy hook because of the new york harbor. And on the other side they get over this anbar but anyway. And then to you do it. And then doesnt do anything either but then the American General has taken quite a while just about ready to do that. To take on the british garrison at newport then all the sudden the british fleet appears and at that time when they go fight in the harbor. So the british are waiting for the french getting ready to have a wonderful steve battle. And then there is a hurricane. How nobody can do anything. And then to go to boston and they are fit to be tried as you can imagine. In the the fall of 1779 to leave the seeds of savannah he get so wounded he passed you take off to go home meanwhile back at the ranch and talking to Marie Antoinette. But lafayette has left 1777 under indictment and then said to the British Ambassador give a couple good ones for me. Has the hero of washington absolutely untouchable. But every but the visits and he says to the king we can and do what we have been doing. Now with a 60,000 men. With a big sigh raised fighting vessels. And to have superiority. In the in the spring of 1780. Under this gentleman not the secretary of war but but he has so many wounds in him now is about 5 inches shorter. And that was written by a lafayette. And with the command of general washington. And with those american one is in charge. And then to vacate by the british. And then to go to hospitals and then to make friends with the people. And finally they meet in september and he sets a trap for washington. And then we will see what he looks like then. And says there will give you a series you must answer them truthfully. And then go right down the chute to. Come up with the answer i already decided. Can we do anything without naval superiority . Sova the tiny get to the tenth question you cannot go after york the four years since he was kicked out. That is the only target but they dont want to do this because he could lose his army. And they dont have enough. And then to say send more money and the dotted line. So then win 1780 goes by there is a mutiny and things are in pretty bad shape. And everybody is ready to go. At wethersfield may 28 to. And then say they will go after york. From newport to the hudson and he does that 1781 to bring the forces back to washington and while theyre there something happens the admiral said by lilly 16 space 16 and they fly to north america. But it is set in the harbor his name is francis and his spanish and sent by the spanish king in the caribbean with florida and mexico. And they get on board in a wonderful harbor and they decide to do the one to plunge. To come up and knock the of british out and to come back down with the spanish fleet fleet, and they will go to yorktown because it is easier and it is isolated and not a peninsula. How stupid can you get . They said dont go there. For you get trapped. So now they cross the hudson and then comes out. South so he will not come to meet them. But meanwhile they can cut south. So they employed with those parties that have been stealing and then to work out a plan. And that point of inflection. So how did they get did general . And then by all love that you can find. And then also carry a couple votes are things like that and then it worked like a charm. And then to tell cornwallis but we dont know where he is so in the meantime he has come ahead and is aiming for the yorktown peninsula and then goes right into the bay lafayettes is there and then everything is hunky dory. And then to bring the canon and other things. But the tide does not turn about 11 00 in the morning and then getting ready for three hours that is a very narrow channel. Then the british are coming down from york in and it is perfect. All they have to do is fall on the of vanguard what does the british to . And it takes seven tel 3 46 p. M. In the afternoon. Not a shot has been fired and it is quite something. And then two hours later they are still firing and darkness comes. They are examining the damage but on the british side they drift southward to the east though whole day goes by and then once again with a horizon figuring they are trying to pull a fast one. But it goes directly south. And then to get into the chesapeake bay. So he comes into star offloading then the british take one look and they go back to your. Sayonara. You are surrounded. They have not yet gotten to yorktown. And then everything is done in tandem. Indonesia those that come up with those seizures and then it is a piece of cake. This is that they know what theyre doing. And then cornwallis has surrendered. And that idea is commemorated. And this is the famous portrait of Benjamin West over Benjamin Franklin with the british negotiations and supposedly there is a reason for that. And they were so eager this point but on the other hand, because each one a different thing broke and they were perfectly willing to take a mean and New Hampshire and michigan and though whole upper reaches of the Mississippi River florida, new orleans said there would not have the right to navigate on the Mississippi River around the alleghenies. But unfortunately there were not in a position to enforce that. Thank you very much. [applause] any questions . Because the french spend so much money on the American Revolution leading directly to the french revolution. Guess is the short answer. The with the effects of the to under 30,000 people per curve and then on the land to coast. In a while this goes on simultaneously. And then that was sent. But that has nothing to do with america. I have been reading the handbook. The way hamilton comes across they seem annoyed at these french officers. In the way for their incredible contributions. And with that interaction with the french. And we came close to Lafayette Park row but hamilton would serve as the intermediary. And then what has split. And then from then on and to get back again then finally he paid washington. He gave him the command he went down to yorktown separately. And then to come in for the close. One will take one and then the other. And then call on washington. There were plenty of other people involved. But he and general locks was the director of artillery which is what you say when there is in for me and hamilton said it is a shell but he said no it is a shot like a cannonball. And if that makes a difference but in any way at that moment then hamilton takes the dive right behind the back side of general box. Indeed it is a shell that means it will bounce before exploding and knocks says to him. In the 17 nineties the americans are attempted to get out from under their obligations we dont owe that anymore. Any other questions . I always find it interesting with the european nations france is one we have not been at war with. And they come to our rescue in the future. I dont understand the question. Will the french do that again . I dont understand the question. I also was reading hamilton. With the relationship between hamilton and thomas jefferson. What role do they play . Nine. And then at monticello to drink no wine and in the 1780s to become official ambassador to france in terms of cementing the goodwill that occurred during the revolution. Because nobody would have known what would have happened. In the washington cabinet that is not precisely true but trying to get out of their obligation. With the same kind of revolution according to the United States to have a champion and that was difficult. Wait for the microphone. I am a canadian originally. So a lot of the history between the United States in france and england and canada a lined up almost automatically the french are always on the other side. And i am surprised that you are surprised that this relationship if the british were fighting the americans would line up automatically. Everybody could assume that that like the native american and with catholicism. And then washington cease to have any officers. Because there were disrupted and would not learn english. And then with the continuing suspicion. And then the war became desperate enough. But with the troops he was not so sure. Banks for a wonderful evening and for coming. [applause]. [inaudible conversations] booktv is on twitter and facebook. We want to hear from you, tweet us, twitter. Com booktv or post a comment on our facebook page, facebook. Com tv. Good morning, everyone,