Hello and welcome to a history of the United States. Episode 149, French Connection, US. In our last episode,

we talked about the American Triumph Saratoga, where the Patriot forces led by Horatio Gates and

Benedict Arnold managed to destroy the Canadian army led by John Begoin. News, which would ultimately lead to the French and Spanish joining the war against the British.

The news reaching Paris would be a disaster, but it wasn't exactly much better than when Word of Saratoga reached London.

Late 1777 had not been plain sailing for the North Ministry,

facing several challenges within Parliament that was a motion supported by Edmund Burke,

deceased hostilities and open terms with the Americans, while the Ministry also faced a vote of no confidence. North managed to win

both of these votes, 246 to 86 and 175 to 477 respectively, but it was a sign of the times.

North himself stated, after learning of Howe's victory on the brandywine,

quote, shall we be very stout or shall we take advantage of the flourishing state of our affairs

to get out this damned war and hold a moderate language? I am very melancholy, notwithstanding our victory. My idea of American

affairs is that, if our success is as great as the most sanguine politician wishes or believes,

the best use we can make of it is to get out of the dispute as soon as possible.

End quote.

Then word arrived of Saratoga.

North and Germain were both heavily shaken, with North needing to be talked out of resigning.

Germain considered abandoning the war on the continent and instead using the Royal

Navy to blockade the Americans until they relented. On December the 10th, North finally addressed

the Commons, stating his intention to offer peace terms to the Patriots and that Parliament

should break as normal for Christmas the next day to reconvene on January the 20th.

In the Lords, this was opposed by the rapidly declining Chatham, now entering the last six months of his life.

Chatham said it was ridiculous for Parliament to act as though nothing unusual was happening when the Army of Canada had been destroyed.

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