With the help of strong allies in the French, Spanish and Dutch, Americans gain momentum and eventually a final victory. But with any victory devastating losses can be a byproduct.
The Family Compact - 1779, The John Carter Brown Museum
|
This piece is titled The Family Compact in reference to the Bourbon family ties between France and Spain dating back centuries to the 1200's. On the left is Charles III of Spain and on the right is Louis XV--both are holding hands with the devil wearing the papal crown. They appear to be dancing a reel on the carpet of the American colonies.
After the Battle of Saratoga, France signed a Treaty of Alliance with America. Soon thereafter, the Spanish and Dutch Empires both joined in the fight. It was well known that if France declared war on England, Spain would join in the fray. This, of course, is only partially because of the Bourbon ties. They also wanted to gain control of the Strait of Gibraltar and joining forces with France would allow them the ability to do just that. |
|
It was discovered in September 1780 that Benedict Arnold, American commander at West Point, was planning to betray his country and turn West Point over to the British. Arnold had consistently felt slighted by lack of recognition for his war efforts both monetarily as well as verbally. Unfortunately, as a salve to his imagined wounds, Arnold turned to the British.
The plot had been discovered when Americans searched a Major Andre and found incriminating documents written by Arnold. Before they were able to arrest Arnold, he escaped to New York where he received only one-third of what was promised. It is interesting to note, however, that even this small amount was more money than any other American during the Revolutionary War. |
Representation of Figures - 1780, Library of Philadelphia
Here an effigy of Arnold is being lead to the gallows. He has two faces representing the two faces of his deception and in one of his hands is a mask for the same while in the other is a letter from Beelzebub.
Behind Arnold, the devil is holding a pitchfork and a bag of money he is shaking in Arnold's ear. Meanwhile, in the front of the procession, the fires of Hell are begin stoked. Arnold's deception, came as a shock to the Americans. Washington declared, "Arnold has betrayed us! Whom can we trust now?" (Taylor, 206). To help with this feeling of betrayal, they burned Arnold's effigy and through this action gained reassurance. |
Arnold's shocking defection tormented Continental officers. 'I cannot get Arnold out of my head,' one confessed. If a great hero could betray the Patriot cause, who would be next? How extensive was the moral rot? To limit such demoralizing questions, Patriot leaders depicted Arnold as a uniquely desperate villain driven by a distinctive greed . . . The Patriot press cast Arnold as an aberration, a satanic monster and perverse exception who proved a rule; the other Americans remained virtuous and true. By cursing Arnold and burning his effigy, Patriots found reassurance that they wold never betray their cause" (Taylor, 207).
After the siege of Yorktown, Cornwallis capitulated to General Washington on October 19, 1781. When Cornwallis surrendered, he had turned over a quarter of the troops in America and the British military was not prepared to replace them. Therefore, from that point forward, they concentrated their efforts elsewhere and America had essentially won their freedom.
Cornwallis's withdrawal to the Virginia coast and his eventual isolation at Yorktown gave the combined American and French army of nearly 17,000 men under Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau the opportunity it was looking for. The French fleet under Admiral de Grasse moved into Chesapeake Bay and blocked Cornwallis's planned escape by sea. Thus surrounded and bombarded at Yorktown, Cornwallis was forced to surrender his army of 8,000 troops to Washington in October 1781. . . Although the war dragged on for several months, everyone knew that Yorktown meant American independence" (Wood, 86).
The American Rattle Snake - James Gillray, 1782, The John Carter Brown Library: Image Collections
|
The image to the right shows the American Rattle Snake and comes full circle to the snake reference used by Benjamin Franklin in the 1754 political cartoon "Join or Die". The snake was a powerful symbol often used in American propaganda.
Two of the three coils are surrounding the British troops with Burgoyne and Cornwallis surrendering their troops to the American Snake. Noticeably missing is the rattle which is often used to warn the victim of coming danger and in its place is a sign giving notice of an apartment to rent to "Military Gentlemen" within the third coil.
Not far away is the head of the snake, whose words indicate the progress of digesting the rest of the leaders. "Two British Armies I have thus Burgoyn'd and room for more I've got, behind." |
James Gillray was a British cartoonist and liked to display the sympathy that many British citizens had to the American cause.
Close-up image of the wording on the American Rattle Snake
Yorktown - Anon., 1781, The John Carter Brown Library: Image Collections
|
This print, simply called Yorktown is the Dutch view of the British surrender at Yorktown. The heat of the Virginia sun can almost be felt through the beam of light streaming towards the main participants in this satire.
Beginning on the left, there is an alter labeled Mexico, Peru, and Chile around which there is a Spaniard, Frenchman and a Dutchman who all have hopes with being able to trade with the Americas. The pillar with the names are an indication of the small amount of holdings that Spain still possesses. Next to them is an emaciated cow with a horn that has been cut off. This is to represent the starving English commerce. The shore is barren except for Scottish thistle and thorns. Yet, she still gives milk as the Dutchman has a milk barrel he is holding that gives the appearance of being full. |
Switching to the front right, there is an Englishman who despairs at the empty treasure box through which rats have rummaged and come up only with small bank notes. Directly next to him is the British lion--wounded from the small, broken teapot on the ground.
On the beach, Lord Cornwallis and Lord Bute, along with two Scot gentlemen, are surrendering while a boat full of French soldiers looks on. They capitulate to a Native American who is representing America and beside him are the blindfolded Justice and Truth with the shield and spear. The American Indian is sitting on a bale of trade goods and holds in his hand an unstrung bow and at at his feet are a pair of broken handcuffs indicating a break from bondage. Directly in front of him are the liberty spear and cap. The barrels to the right of the group of Indians is being prepared to ship to Cadiz, Nantes, and Marseille in an effort to resume trade with Spain and France but barrels are noticeably missing for England.
Another subtle, but effective symbol is the Native American dressed from head to toe in a lion's hide made into a headdress. This indicated the full collapse of the British military power in the Americas.
On the beach, Lord Cornwallis and Lord Bute, along with two Scot gentlemen, are surrendering while a boat full of French soldiers looks on. They capitulate to a Native American who is representing America and beside him are the blindfolded Justice and Truth with the shield and spear. The American Indian is sitting on a bale of trade goods and holds in his hand an unstrung bow and at at his feet are a pair of broken handcuffs indicating a break from bondage. Directly in front of him are the liberty spear and cap. The barrels to the right of the group of Indians is being prepared to ship to Cadiz, Nantes, and Marseille in an effort to resume trade with Spain and France but barrels are noticeably missing for England.
Another subtle, but effective symbol is the Native American dressed from head to toe in a lion's hide made into a headdress. This indicated the full collapse of the British military power in the Americas.
Washington's victory was a remarkable turnabout, for the Patriot cause had been desperate, verging on collapse, in early 1781. . . Thanks to [France and Spain] desperate Patriots got the crucial help that saved their cause and won the war at Yorktown" (Taylor, 296).