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Alliances in the American Revolution

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Alliances in the American Revolution

The Continental Army didn't fight the war alone: they received information, supplies, and men from allies across the globe. France offered its navy, Spain fought in the southern colonies, and different Native American groups assisted battalions, hoping their alliances would help preserve land and resources in the future. Scroll to learn more about these alliances, and how they changed the outcome of the war. 

Rochambeau

Rochambeau

The King of France sent Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau, along with 5,500 troops, to the North American colonies to aid the Continental Army.

Learn more about Rochambeau
The Oneida

The Oneida

The Onedia aided the Continental Army after initially declaring neutrality. They provided troops and spies throughout the Revolution and became an essential part of Continental operations.

Learn about the Oneida
Gardoqui

Gardoqui

Diego María de Gardoqui y Arriquíbar oversaw Spain's financial and material support of American colonies during the Revolutionary War. He supplied the Continental troops with gunpowder, weapons, and troops as the war continued in the colonies.

Learn more about Gardoqui

Vocabulary

Alliance: An agreement between two or more groups to help each other in times of need
Treason: The action of betraying someone or something
Battalion : A large group of soldiers ready for battle
Neutrality: Not helping either side in a disagreement or war

Alliances in the Revolutionary War

1775
1783
The War Begins
France joins the Continental Army
The Oneida join the Continental Army
Spain joins the Continental Army
The War Ends with the Treaty of Paris

April 19, 1775

The War Begins

The Revolutionary War began with the battles of Lexington and Concord, known as the "shot heard 'round the world." The British were expected to have a quick victory but lost more men and equipment than expected.

Dutch merchants began to supply Continental troops with weapons and supplies, despite the Netherlands' friendship with Great Britain.

France joins the Continental Army

French representatives signed treaties with commissioners and officially entered an alliance with the Continental Army. They provided supplies, men, and naval support in the war, which was essential to winning the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.

The Oneida join the Continental Army

When the British threatened to march through Oneida territory to attack Fort Schyler, the Oenida warned the Patriot militia of the upcoming attack and fought alongside the Continentals at the Battle of Oriskany. They later helped the Continental Army at Valley Forge, the Battle of Barren Hill, and other important battles of the American Revolution.

Spain joins the Continental Army

The Spanish officially allied with the Continental Army with the Treaty of Aranjuez, declaring war on Great Britain. The Spanish helped the Continentals fight in the southern part of the colonies and, like France, gave military and naval support throughout the war.

The War Ends with the Treaty of Paris

Representatives from Great Britain, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and the newly independent United States came together and signed the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution. The Native American allies who had fought alongside these powers were not invited. 

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