Ben Franklin’s envoy to France is one of, if not the most, important event in American history because without his endeavors, America would have likely lost the Revolutionary War. Every single event which is in The American Pageant following the end of the Revolutionary War would likely have never happened without French support during the revolution. Their navy is what won the Battle of Yorktown where General Cornwallis of the British surrendered, winning America the war. Franklin’s envoy is also an indication of American Foreign Policy in its earliest days. After making a hard alliance with France, America soon realized the mistake they had made and this would cause America to pursue an isolationistic foreign policy in later years. The results of the negative drawbacks of the treaty are best seen in Washington’s Neutrality Proclamation during the conflict between France and Britain and his advice during his Farewell Address warning Americans to avoid long lasting treaties. The much later Monroe Doctrine also represents this isolationist ideal since it told European powers that they were no long welcome on the American Continent. Franklin’s belief of religious toleration also had influence in the country of France itself. Before Franklin arrived in France, the Edict of Fontainebleau was in effect which revoked the Edict of Nantes (which …show more content…
The French Revolution occurred in part due to the debt accumulated from France assisting the Americans. If France refused to help America in their war effort, they never would have accumulated the debt caused by the war. Thus, one of the main causes of the French Revolution would have been diminished and it could possibly result in a no Revolution what so ever. If the revolution didn’t occur, thousands of French lives would be saved and Napoleon would have never conquered most of Europe spreading his code of