The success of the War of American Independence depended on substantial military assistance provided by France and Spain, which saw their strategic interests align with those of America in the fight against England. At the time the first shots were fired at Lexington and Concord, the American colonists had almost no chance of militarily defeating the British. The United States had no navy, little in the way of artillery, and a militia bereft even of gunpowder. Without the extensive military and financial support of the French and Spanish, the American cause would never have succeeded. France and Spain provided close to the equivalent of $30 billion and 90 percent of all guns used by the Americans, and they sent soldiers and sailors by the thousands to fight and die alongside the Americans, as well as around the world. Instead of viewing the American Revolution in isolation, Brothers at Arms shows that the American nation was born as the centerpiece of an international coalition fighting against a common enemy.

Cosponsored by Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at George Mason University (OLLI Mason).

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Dr. Larrie D. Ferreiro is the 2017 Pulitzer Prize finalist in History for Brothers at Arms. His most recent book, Churchill’s American Arsenal, was published in 2022 under Oxford University Press. He teaches history and engineering at George Mason University.

ABOUT OLLI MASON

OLLI Mason provides intellectual and cultural experiences to curious individuals. Learn more at OLLI.gmu.edu.

INVITE

This program is appropriate for ages 18+. Register by clicking on the "Begin Registration" button. A Zoom link will be emailed a day before start of each program.