Sadly, what most people don't know or aren't taught is that Spanish involvement was a huge success for the victory at Yorktown! Spain funded Admiral Degrasse's French fleet and offered to protect French possessions in the Caribbean allowing Degrasse to travel to the Chesapeake and later Yorktown which Spain also funded paying both France and the Continental army who hadn't been paid for several months and years causing several mutinees! In August of 1780 Admiral Luis de Cordova captured 55 British ships and over 3,000 prisoners many of them were British soldier reinforcements; approximately 2,000! 80,000 muskets, 300 cannons and equipment for 40,000 troops that could have been used against American forces especially at Yorktown possibly! In 1781 Bernardo de Gálvez conquered Pensacola taking over 1,000 British prisoners weakening and demoralizing the British! Cornwallis was depleted at least a good 3,000 or more men-with only a mere 8,000 British troops at Yorktown! A much easier victory for the combined French and Continental army! Divine Providence indeed in the form of Spain! 🇪🇸

It is worth remembering that France's main colony in the West Indies was Saint Dominque (now Haiti), which accounted for the largest share of exports (mostly sugar) from any French colony. Thank you for bringing attention to Rochambeau. His castle is just up the river from us (Rochambeau is a lieu-dit in the town of Thoré les Rochettes, near Vendôme). There is a lovely statue of Rochambeau in Vendôme and even a picnic area at a roundabout entering the town commemorating both Rochambeau and Washington.

Thanks for this perspective. It allows me to see just a little further into the sphere of details that collectively won our Independence. Thank you, France!

Professor Osman is very charismatic orator. And her "aha" is absolutely charming

Merci Professor Osman !

Thanks!

my first born american 5x great uncle fought in the american revolution under gen george washington and was present when cornwallis surrendered in yorktown. it took him nearly 50 years to get his pension.

I love how she gives a French perspective of events of 1781 and also the entire war. I have always asked myself, would the Americans have won without Frances support? Hard to know for sure. Possibly yes, if the British military didn't take out General Washington or the Continental Congress. The war of course would have gone on for perhaps another five or ten years in a very guerrilla style war to wear down the British. A protracted war was expensive and the British were very concerned about costs.

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE DOWN

Despite the few unwanted issues, I did learn a lot.

I enjoyed the video. However, Howe (Richard) was not among those commanding British forces at the Battle of the Saintes. Sir George Rodney and Sir Samuel Hood are to be credited with the victory over Admiral Comte de Grasse of the French fleet in the West Indies.

Merci Julia superbe exposer, i like the way you treated the french 🤙🇫🇷

She reminds me of the first Got Milk commercial.”Who shot Aaron Burr?”

Time to settle some old scores say the French ,Spanish and any other European nation with a grudge against Britain.

The word " Marine " is French...in American ( english ) is " Navy "...that's an historic connection beetween " les troupes de marine françaises " (french marine 's troops ) which were called " marines " by the colonial officers of Washington , and the actual " U.S MARINES" of the United States.... Who also have " NAVY SEALS " ...NAVY not MARINE.

The Royal Welch Fusiliers smuggled their colours out of Yorktown.

I believe the British admiral who won the battle of the Saints was Lord Rodney, not Lord Howe..:

The professor is very knowledgeable. A very enjoyable lecture.

Yes, we must thank the French, but most imporatantly we must thank Providence that Cornwallis was so depleted in men and supplies that he needed to retire to Yorktown for resupply. The French navy was in just the right place after defeating the British navy.

The fact that she doesn't even mention Donald Trump shows she knows nothing the Revolutionary War