Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumThe Revolutionary War: Military and Diplomacy

Source: Benjamin Franklin, American commissioner in Paris, letter to the Committee of Secret Correspondence, March 1777:

"The cry of this nation is for us, but the Court, though well-disposed, is cautious of entering into a war before they are fully prepared, and before we have shown ourselves capable of maintaining our independence. They continue, however, to furnish us underhand with money and military stores. ... Every day's delay of a formal treaty increases their risk, but they wait for some major success of our arms to justify a public declaration in our favor."

The diplomatic situation described in the excerpt was most directly resolved by which of the following developments?

  1. The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga, which demonstrated colonial military capability to European powers.Answer
  2. B
    The outbreak of armed conflict at Lexington and Concord, which convinced the French that a full-scale war was inevitable.
  3. C
    The signing of the Declaration of Independence, which legally established the United States as a sovereign nation capable of entering treaties.
  4. D
    The British surrender at Yorktown, which forced the French to enter the war to secure territory at the peace negotiations.

Answer

The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga, which demonstrated colonial military capability to European powers.
The correct option is correct because the victory at the Battle of Saratoga in October 1777 demonstrated to the French government that the Continental Army had the capacity to defeat British forces. This major military success satisfied the condition described by Franklin, directly leading to the signing of the Treaty of Alliance in February 1778.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document.
In the letter from March 1777, Benjamin Franklin notes that while France is providing secret financial and material aid, the French government is waiting for a 'major success of our arms' before formally entering the war on the American side.
Understanding the specific conditions required by France for an alliance helps identify which historical event fulfilled these conditions.
2
Identify the key military turning point that met the French criteria.
The Battle of Saratoga in October 1777 resulted in the surrender of British General John Burgoyne's army, which served as the decisive victory France needed.
Linking the military outcome to the diplomatic outcome shows the direct causal relationship between battlefield success and foreign alliance.
3
Evaluate the chronological and logical alignment of the options.
The Treaty of Alliance was signed in February 1778, directly following the news of Saratoga reaching Paris, which fits the timeline and logic of Franklin's letter.
Ensuring chronological consistency helps rule out events that occurred either too early or too late.

Key Concept

The connection between American military success at Saratoga and the securing of a formal diplomatic alliance with France.
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

The Revolutionary War: Military and Diplomacy

More questions from this topic