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Article: A secret mission.(fighting for independence)
- Article from:
- Cobblestone
- Article date:
- October 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Carus Publishing Co. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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To win the struggle for independence from Great Britain, the American Colonies needed help. Guns, ammunition, and ships were in short supply. More than anything, though, America needed money.
Even before the Second Continental Congress declared independence, it decided to quietly contact other countries to see if they would aid America's quest. In December 1775, Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania, along with other members of a diplomatic committee, met with a French secret agent. Stung by its defeat by Great Britain in the French and Indian War (1754-1763), France was eager to weaken its longtime enemy. It might be willing to help the Colonies break free from ...