Episode 30: Treaty w France with Craig Beles

This episode discusses the two key treaties with France that were instrumental to America being accepted into the world’s family of nations.  The first was the Treaty of Amity and Commerce which recognized U.S. independence and established trade and navigation rights between the U.S. and France; the second was The Treaty of Alliance, the first military treaty of the United States. American diplomatic leadership for both treaties was led by Ben Franklin. He held celebrity-like status in France and helped win French support for the United States during the American Revolutionary War. The Treaties brought France into the war, providing troops, naval power, and funding crucial to victory at Yorktown in 1781. These treaties are considered one of the most important diplomatic successes of the American Revolution.

While Vashon does not have treaties, we do have agreements with King County and those agreements have often led to conflicts that have caused islanders to attempt to break away from the County by either forming a separate county, joining Pierce or Kitsap County, or incorporating as a city.