The prehistoy of American diplomacy -- The Euorpean balance of power, 1763-1775 -- The failure of British diplomacy after the Seven Years' War -- French foreign policy during the reign of Louis XV -- British reaction to the American rebellion -- The development of American diplomacy -- France offers secret aid -- The Revolution's impact on Europe -- America's first diplomatic mission -- The commissioners discredited -- The making of the alliance -- The outbreak of hostilities -- The Franco-Spanish alliance -- The American consensus disintegrates -- British wartime diplomacy -- Russian diplomacy during the American Revolution -- The opening of negotiations -- The Americans reach agreement -- The European settlement -- The final treaties and their consequences
Summary
Looks at the effect of the American Revolution on European relations, relates American diplomatic efforts to others of the time, and explains why England could not find allies against the colonists
