america in the world (1491–1607)

America in the world
(period 3: 1754­1800) “The Seven Years’ War was in its origin not an European war at all; it was a war between
England and France on Colonial questions with which the rest of Europe had nothing to do”
­ Arthur Ropes, late nineteenth century British historian
The American Revolution wasn’t really an American­British conflict. The fight for American independence provoked the interest of Europe’s most powerful colonial powers. The result of this conflict would not only determine the fate of the thirteen North American colonies, but also change the balance of colonial power throughout the world. Similar to how the colonies’ dissatisfaction with the British took years, European involvement in the American Revolution came at the end of a century filled with intense imperial rivalry. In particular, the outbreak of armed conflict between the American colonies and Britain occurred only twelve years after the end of the Seven Years’ War.
• The French Revolution’s spread throughout Europe and beyond helped fuel Americans’ debate not only about the nature of the United States’ domestic order, but also about its proper role in the world.
• Although George Washington’s Farewell Address warned about the dangers of divisive political parties and permanent foreign alliances, European conflict and tensions with Britain and France fueled increasingly bitter partisan debates throughout the 1790s.
• The seven years' war officially ended in 1763 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
• France had the most at stake in the American Revolution The British and French peoples were intense military, economic, and political rivals.
• Spain was fueled by American victory in the Revolutionary War o Spain sought to recapture many of her Floridian ports and forts that she lost to the British in
1763.
• German involvement in the American Revolution fell on the side of the British.