ARP236 Diplomatic Offensive

French Minister Conrad Gerard is replaced by Anne-César de La Luzerne.  Congress realizes it needs more allies in Europe, as well as access to more cash loans. Congress gives Benjamin Franklin complete control over negotiations with France. It also appoints John Adams to negotiate a treaty with Great Britain, and John Jay as minster to Spain.  Congress also appoints Henry Laurens as Minster to the Netherlands. However Laurens is captured en route and sent to the Tower of London. Blog https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: The American Revolution and the French Alliance, by William C. Stinchcombe (or view on archive.org). Online Recommendation of the Week: Despatches and instructions of Conrad Alexandre Gérard, 1778-1780; correspondence of the first French minister to the United States with the Comte de Vergennes, https://archive.org/details/despatchesinstru00fran Join the Facebook group, American Revolution Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/132651894048271 Follow the podcast on Twitter @AmRevPodcast Join the podcast mail list: https://mailchi.mp/d3445a9cd244/american-revolution-podcast-by-michael-troy  ARP T-shirts and other merch: http://tee.pub/lic/AmRevPodcast Support this podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AmRevPodcast or via PayPal http://paypal.me/AmRevPodcast Blog https://blog.AmRevPodcast.com includes a complete transcript, as well as pictures, and links related to this week's episode. Book Recommendation of the Week: Arms, Country and Class; The Philadelphia Militia and the “Lower Sort” during the American Revolution, by Steven Roswurm.(or read on archive.org) Online Recommendation of the Week: James Wilson - Nation Builder: https://archive.org/details/jameswilsonnatio00alex Join the Facebook group, American Revolution Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/132651894048271 Follow the podcast on Twitter @AmRevPodcast Join the podcast mail list: https://mailchi.mp/d3445a9cd244/american-revolution-podcast-by-michael-troy  ARP T-shirts and other merch: http://tee.pub/lic/AmRevPodcast Support this podcast on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/AmRevPodcast or via PayPal http://paypal.me/AmRevPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices