Today in History: Patriots Learned of Increased French Support

On this day in History, Patriots learned of increased French support on Oct 01, 1776. Learn more about what happened today on History.

Source: Patriots learn of increased French support – Oct 01, 1776 – HISTORY.com

France commemorated the victory at Yorktown with this medallion, designed by U.S. Ambassador Benjamin Franklin.

In an effort to remind Americans how crucial a role France has played in American history, I am sharing this write-up from History.com on how France helped the United States during the American Revolution. On this day in 1776, Benjamin Franklin and Robert Morris (a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a financier of the American Revolution) received intelligence that the French were going to purchase materiel in Holland and send it to the West Indies for use by the Patriots.

This 1931 U.S. stamp commemorated the 150th anniversary of the victory at Yorktown with likenesses of the battle’s leaders: Comte Rochambeau (leader of French troops), General George Washington (leader of U.S. troops), and Comte de Grasse (leader of French fleet).

Less than two years later, a British squadron fired upon two French ships, marking France’s formal entry into our war with the British. The Revolution’s turning point was the Battle at Yorktown, which the U.S. won with the help of French soldiers and French naval ships.

Au revoir!

The image of the French medallion commemorating the victory at Yorktown and the image of the 1931 U.S. stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle at Yorktown are both from Wikipedia, and are in the public domain.