Reconstructing the Naval History of the American Revolution

 Reviving the naval history of the American Revolution is one approach to studying the naval activity of the time period. This article examines the French Navy under the command of the "Sun King," as well as pirates, inferior ships, and anarchy on board French vessels. You will also study the French government's naval actions during this time period. Regardless of your background, this story will captivate you. Louis XIV of France influenced the development of the French Navy in the seventeenth century. It had a famous heritage of naval triumphs, including a decisive win against the English at the Battle of Sluys. But the French Navy also suffered strategic setbacks at the hands of Michiel de Ruyter and the Dutch.

In the years after the American Revolution, the American colonies never threatened Britain's maritime dominance, but they did enjoy one distinct edge over the home country. Robert Morris, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, famously stated, "The British have more to lose than we do." In response, the Continental Congress authorized the building of six frigates and a fleet of warships.

However, the French Navy was restricted to 75 battleships and around 70 frigates. Their lack of discipline put them at a disadvantage versus disciplined opponents. Many French sailors refused to fight when confronted by an enemy, and many superiors had difficulty transferring power. Additionally, there were several instances of extreme cowardice. The French ship Tourville, for instance, was destroyed in 1793 after the crew refused to work after the loss of the commander. After losing twelve soldiers, the crew of the Republicain refused to work. In addition, they failed to manage the rotation of ships undergoing refurbishment in ports.

The majority of the maritime history of the American Revolution occurred on land, but there were ships, particularly in Boston. During the conflict, just one notable naval engagement was reported. Throughout the war, Boston continued to sail as HMS Charlestown, intercepting French ships en route to Boston in June 1781. With the conclusion of the war, however, Boston ceased to be of major significance to the British Navy. This rendered her ineffective as a warship, and it was finally sold in 1783 - most likely to pay off war debts.

American trade boats were assaulted by North African pirates in 1794, prompting the re-establishment of the national Navy. On March 27, 1794, the United States Congress enacted a law reestablishing the Navy. This act, however, also provided that the building would end once peace was reached with Algeria. This peace was finally reached in the early months of 1796, and building on three frigates commenced in 1797.

During the French Revolution, many French ships were plagued with anarchy. As anarchists, merchants and property owners were reviled. The anarchists reigned by dictating the convention's choices and commanded its control. The French revolutionaries were enraged with the anarchists and refused to forgive them.

Anarchists were inadmissible to the convention. They felt themselves to be street dwellers. The alliance of labor unions and consumer organizations was vague and unattainable. They needed to be able to garner popular support.

During the early stages of the Nine Years' War, the French Navy gained early triumphs against the Dutch and British navies. As the conflict proceeded, however, the French Navy suffered further setbacks. The English and Dutch regained the initiative at sea as a result. In the meanwhile, the Dutch opposed French control of Dutch territory and stayed afloat.

Strategic aims for the French Navy were related to their European aspirations, and they frequently battled to maintain the same degree of preparedness as their land-based rivals. Consequently, training and operational performance were frequently disregarded. Consequently, the Royal Navy's domination of the seas intensified over the eighteenth century, resulting in a series of important French losses. The French Navy, led by de Grasse, destroyed the English in the Battle of Chesapeake in 1781. This fight contributed to the Franco-American triumph at Yorktown.

In the early seventeenth century, the War of the Grand Alliance, also known as the League of Augsburg, was a military battle. It was the third of Louis XIV of France's major aggressive wars, fought against Great Britain, Spain, and the Dutch Republic. The conflict occurred in Holland and Spain.

The main French fleet of 35 ships was four kilometers away from the allied fleet on 30 May 1692. The French fleet, however, could not keep up with the allied fleet due to the Soleil Royal's severe damage. Therefore, the French chose to utilize the Raz de Blanchard, a waterway between Alderney and Cotentin with strong currents.

During the American Revolutionary War, both the British and the United States utilized the Navy to defend their commerce and territories. During the latter years of the war, it also helped the British troops repel the Dutch and Spanish. In April 1798, following the conclusion of the war, the United States Navy was legally founded with the foundation of the governmental Department of the Navy.

The Naval History and Heritage Command developed the Naval Documents of the American Revolution collection, which comprises numerous primary sources for researching the Navy's participation in the conflict. These records consist of letters, journals, and ship logs. Every book may be downloaded in PDF format.