Overview:
The main contributions to the colonial side were led by France, with later help by Holland and Spain. Their assisatnce was mainly financial (huge loans) and naval forces, at first more surreptitiously, then after the American success in the Battle of Saratoga, in open alliance.
Note that, as with the Seven Years' War (where the American part was known as the "French & Indian War"), the American Revolution ended up being a WORLD war -- another contest between the major European powers, focused in England and France.
"Britain won the Seven Years’ War and imposed the Peace of Paris which bred the next cycle of conflict with the Continental powers. They all hated and feared Britain as the newly dominant nation of Europe. She had stolen Holland’s priority on the seas and had swept France from the American continent and the best part of her fisheries. Spain had suffered less, but she was tied to France by the Bourbon Family Compact."
http://www.americanheritage.com/articles/magazine/ah/1956/3/1956_3_65.shtml
"France, the Netherlands and Spain entered the war against Great Britain in an attempt to dilute Britain's emerging superpower status. Early on, all three countries quietly provided financial assistance to the American rebels. France officially entered the war in 1778 and soon sent troops, ships, and military equipment to fight against the British for the remainder of the war. Spain entered the war in 1779, officially as an ally of France but not the United States. The Netherlands entered the war late in 1780, but was soon overwhelmed by the British."
http://experts.about.com/e/a/am/American_Revolutionary_War.htm
"The American Revolution was also a world war. With the American victory at Saratoga in 1778, France entered the war on the American side. The French wanted to avenge its defeat in 1763 at the hands of the British in the Seven Years' War. It had been secretly supplying the Americans with military supplies since 1775 awaiting an opportunity to side openly with the revolting Americans. By 1780, both Holland and Spain joined the French and Americans. (The Spanish, it is true, were a little hesitant to make war against another colonial power, but the possibility of destroying British trade hegemony was too powerful to resist. The Spanish monarchy would regret its decision in the nineteenth century when its own colonies would revolt citing the American example). With their seafaring fleets, America's European allies attacked British possessions in the West Indies, Africa, and India, thus spreading the war over the face of the globe.
"Historians also stress the importance of the direct assistance that the European allies gave to the Americans in their victory over the British. It is probably not going too far to say that America owes its independence to foreign intervention and aid, especially from France. The French monarchy sent arms, clothing, and ammunition to America; it also sent soldiers and the French Navy. Most importantly, the French kept the United States government solvent by lending it the money to keep the Revolution alive. The magnitude of French support of the American Revolution can be glimpsed at the battle of Yorktown. There, the majority of George Washington's 15,000 man Continental Army were French soldiers. Washington's men were clothed by the French, the rifles they used were French, and French gold paid their wages. Nor must we forget that it was the French Navy that trapped Cornwallis's soldiers at Yorktown by preventing English ships sent from New York from rescuing the British army. Perhaps the final irony of the French monarchy's assistance to America (and proving once again that no good deed goes unpunished) is that it led to the financial collapse of the French ancien regime. And the bankruptcy of Louis XVI was one of the major causes of the French Revolution."
http://revolution.h-net.msu.edu/essays/carp.html
More on
SPAIN
series on "Spain's Involvement in the American Revolutionary War"
http://www.sar.org/mxssar/spinvo-1.htm
http://www.sar.org/mxssar/spinvo-2.htm
Chronology of -- http://www.sar.org/mxssar/sphist.htm
FRANCE
"France was the guiding spirit of the anti-British coalition, which was to include Spain, the Netherlands, the colonies and several minor states. Secret aid given to the colonies by France and Spain and propaganda carried out by French agents was soon to bear fruit. "
http://www.marylandciviceducation.org/croatia/ragusa.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France_in_the_American_Revolutionary_War
AND HOLLAND
See Barbara Tuchman's book (a great read!!) *First Salute: A View of the American Revolution*
--places the war in the historical context of the centuries-long conflicts between England and both France and Holland, demonstrating how aid of both of these nations made the triumph of American independence possible. Focuses esp on the key role played by the contending navies
More on the importance of the War at Sea, which in many ways the biggest contribution of the contintental powers to the war -
http://www.americanrevwar.homestead.com/files/sea.htm
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On the other side (as has already been mentioned) some 30,000 German troops --about a third of the British forces-- were conscripted to fight for King George III. (As a group they were labeled "Hessians", because more than half of them came from Hesse.) Some of these were direct subjects of the King (who still ruled over Hanover in Germany), others were sent by neighboring German princes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hessian
2006-10-19 16:14:16
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answer #1
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answered by bruhaha 7
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Well, aside from the obvious (Great Britain and France) you also have some of the German states contributing troops to the British. While known as the "Hessians," few of these troops actually came from the Hesse state - most came from Saxony I believe. And they truly did not qualify as mercenaries as the troops themselves were not paid specifically to fight for Britain. Rather, they were "volunteered" by their commander, who received payment for their services.
Also, you've got Holland/Netherlands in the mix handling many of the loans taken by the Continental Congress to finance the war. Spain participated in some spying in an effort to get a better position in North America. Russia was asked for money and arms, and I think they may have provided some (but very little).
2006-10-17 03:20:18
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answer #2
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answered by PosseComitatus 2
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I'm not sure I understand the question. Who were the other countries or what was their involvement and why ? We were fighting the Brits and any help we got was to keep a hand in the pot of this new country.
2006-10-16 04:42:35
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answer #3
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answered by rock d 3
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France,Britain, Spain
2006-10-16 05:30:39
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answer #4
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answered by brainstorm 7
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In a very minor way, Holland. Ben Franklin went there to borrow money to finance the war effort.
2006-10-16 04:39:25
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answer #5
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answered by clyde 3
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Well, I know some about the contribution of Greece!
Not only Greeks came to fight for freedom, but the freedom fighters had been motivated by the classical pieces of art, philosophy and democratic political system of Greece!
2006-10-16 06:43:35
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answer #6
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answered by soubassakis 6
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A bit confused aren't you. America "The Great Satan" means Muslims never have to responsibility for any of their actions or consequences.
2016-05-22 06:22:10
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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France and England.
2006-10-16 04:33:47
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answer #8
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answered by Anonymous
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King of England paid for it, if thats what sort of involvement you're looking for.
2006-10-16 04:38:52
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answer #9
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answered by p_rutherford2003 5
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