Committee of Secret Correspondence facts for kids
The Committee of Secret Correspondence was a special group created by the Second Continental Congress. This was the meeting of leaders from the Thirteen Colonies during the American Revolution. The Committee was active from 1775 to 1776.
Its main job was to secretly get help and support from other countries. They especially worked to get French aid and alliance during the American Revolution. In 1777, this committee changed its name to the Committee of Foreign Affairs.
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Why the Committee Was Created
As the American Revolutionary War was about to begin, the leaders meeting in Philadelphia in 1775 realized something important. They knew the Thirteen Colonies would need friends and allies from other countries. These allies would help them fight for independence from Great Britain.
To find these allies, the Congress decided to create the Committee of Secret Correspondence. They passed a resolution that said:
- A committee would be chosen.
- Its only job would be to talk with friends in Great Britain and other parts of the world.
- They would show their secret talks to Congress when asked.
- Congress would pay for all the costs of these secret talks. This included paying any agents the Committee sent out.
What the Committee Did
The Committee of Secret Correspondence was formed to "correspond with our friends in Great Britain and other parts of the world." But most of their work focused on making friends with other countries. These countries would hopefully support the American fight for freedom.
While looking for foreign allies, the committee also did several other important things:
- They hired secret agents to gather information from other countries.
- They carried out undercover operations.
- They started campaigns to spread American ideas and gain support.
- They studied foreign newspapers and writings to get more information.
- They even started a small naval unit, separate from the main Navy.
- The committee also acted as a central point for all communications with foreign countries.
Who Were the First Members?
The first members of the Committee of Secret Correspondence were important figures. They included Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Harrison V, Thomas Johnson, John Jay, Robert Morris, and John Dickinson.
Benjamin Franklin was the most active member. He was a famous scientist, writer, and politician. Franklin was very good at dealing with other countries. He sent letters to a Spanish Prince and to people in France who liked America. He wanted to gather support for the American cause.
Franklin also traveled to France himself. He worked to convince the French to become allies with the United States. He was also a key person in signing the Treaty of Paris in 1783. This treaty officially ended the American Revolution.
Why Was It "Secret"?
The Committee of Secret Correspondence worked hard to get support from other countries. They wanted this support for the upcoming American Revolution. Because of this, they asked the Continental Congress to keep their members and actions secret. They did not want Great Britain to find out about their plans to make foreign alliances.
Another reason for secrecy was that the committee had many secret agents. These agents were on missions overseas. They were gathering information about other countries' politics and economies. If other countries found out about these agents, their missions would be ruined. For example, in 1776, the Committee told Silas Deane, a secret agent in France, how to talk with the French government. They wanted him to encourage France to send weapons and ships to the United States.
Congress agreed to keep things secret. They decided not to share the names of the people the Committee used or talked with. Also, Congress wrote down all decisions about the Committee of Secret Correspondence in "Secret Journals." These were separate from the public journals. Finally, the Committee was allowed to create its own oath of secrecy. This oath was put in place on November 29, 1775. There was also a secrecy agreement for government workers.
France and the Committee
In 1775, the French government had a big decision to make. Should they support the Americans in the Revolution? Helping the Americans could be a chance for France to get back land in North America. It could also weaken Great Britain's power. But France was also worried. They feared that if the Americans succeeded, it might inspire French colonies to rebel too.
Before deciding, the French government wanted more information. They needed to know about the situation in the United States. So, they chose Julien Alexandre Achard de Bonvouloir. He was a 26-year-old former French officer. His job was to travel to the United States as a secret agent. He was to contact the Continental Congress.
Bonvouloir met with the Committee of Secret Correspondence three times in December 1775. During these meetings, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay debated how much to tell Bonvouloir. They knew he might be a spy. The Committee told Bonvouloir that the United States was serious about separating from Great Britain. They then asked him about France's opinion of the American colonies. They also asked about getting weapons, supplies, and engineers from France.
After these talks, Bonvouloir returned to France. He shared what he learned with the French government. As a result, France agreed to secretly give the United States "a million livres" (French money). They also agreed to try and convince Spain to give another million. The help France gave was kept secret to avoid fighting with Britain. Britain would have been angry if they found out France was helping their rebellious colonies.
The alliance between France and the United States became official later. This happened with the signing of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce on February 6, 1778.
Silas Deane's Secret Mission
While the Committee was talking with Bonvouloir in the United States, they were also giving instructions to Silas Deane. Deane was a delegate from Connecticut to the Continental Congress. He was on a secret mission in France. His job was to convince the French that the United States was truly ready to fight for independence. He also needed to persuade them to help the United States in their fight.
Deane was able to get unofficial financial and military help from the French. This included weapons and ships. Then, Benjamin Franklin arrived in France in December 1776. He was able to make the alliance official when the Treaty of Amity and Commerce was signed in 1778.
How the Committee Helped the Revolution
The Committee of Secret Correspondence was replaced by the Committee of Foreign Affairs on April 17, 1777. But the Committee of Secret Correspondence is remembered for its big impact on the American Revolution.
The Committee started the talks with France. They helped convince French officials to form an alliance and help the United States. This help was very important for the Americans to gain independence from Britain. Once convinced, France made major contributions to the war.
For example, French fleets under General Degrasse and Rochambeau blocked the Chesapeake Bay. This happened during the Siege of Yorktown. This prevented the British from escaping by sea. It also helped George Washington's American army attack. This successful military effort led to the surrender of British General Cornwallis. A few days later, the British Prime Minister, Lord Frederick North, resigned.
After the surrender, the British signed the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783. This treaty officially ended the war. It was negotiated by John Jay and Benjamin Franklin. Both were former members of the Committee of Secret Correspondence.
Historian George Woodbridge recognized France's help, especially Rochambeau's role at Yorktown. He noted that Rochambeau planned the campaign. The French fleet was there because of his arrangements. The battle tactics were his. The American army was present because he had lent money to Washington. In total, there were more French soldiers and sailors than Americans. Yorktown was truly Rochambeau's victory.
