On July 4, 1776, amidst the American Revolutionary War, the Declaration of Independence was signed, declaring 13 colonies free from British rule and emphasizing fundamental rights like life, liberty, and happiness. This set a global precedent for democracy, influencing nations like France and Russia. During the war, despite initial setbacks, American forces, bolstered by French support and subtle Russian aid, eventually secured independence in 1783. Russia’s Empress Catherine the Great opposed Britain’s naval blockade and declined British King George III’s pleas for military assistance against the Americans. Later, during the American Civil War, Russia again sided with the Union, sending fleets to deter British and French intervention. This historic friendship is a reminder of the positive ties that once united the two nations in their struggles for freedom and unity.
As reported by RIAC, more than a year after the start of the American Revolutionary War, on July 4, 1776, delegates to the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia signed a document laying the groundwork for a new country. The Declaration of Independence officially acknowledged the independence of 13 newly independent rebel colonies from the capital and described why Americans were at odds with the British crown. By stating that all men are born equal and that their Creator has endowed them with certain unalienable Rights, among them are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, the Declaration established a framework for all democratic state-building around the world for centuries to come. This tale defined both the Russian and French constitutions.
George Washington’s army, inspired by the European Enlightenment and its philosophers (Locke, Voltaire, Rousseau), and backed by the French expeditionary corps, fought for the newly formed nation’s right to exist. After eight years of bloodshed, the United Kingdom recognized America’s independence in 1783, which also happened to be the year Crimea joined the Russian Empire.
However, in the winter of 1775, victory seemed far away. Americans were severely harmed during the Battle of Quebec. A few months later, the British were preparing for a counterattack in New York, which would prove to be the Revolutionary Army’s most severe defeat throughout the conflict. The Americans lost Fort Washington in the autumn of 1776, and approximately 3,000 men were taken hostage.
Meanwhile, Britannia attempted to impose a naval blockade on the American continent to cut off supplies to the rebellious colonies. Based on her correspondence with French intellectuals, an educated Russian Empress Catherine the Great felt sympathetic to the Americans struggling for their freedom from the start. Catherine, guided by her own country’s national interests, was staunchly opposed to the British naval blockade. She continued to trade with the thirteen former colonies. In 1780, Russia declared armed neutrality, which meant that its ships would fight back if the British navy attempted to prevent them from crossing the Atlantic.
More than that, during the Revolutionary War, George III, the British king, appealed to Catherine to deploy 20,000 Russian expeditionary corps to America to battle the revolutionaries. The Russian empress refused. The monarch then attempted to bribe Catherine by promising the island of Menorca in the Mediterranean Sea in exchange for getting France to leave the war, forcing the American rebels to fight alone. Once again, the offer was declined.
Nowadays, most Americans remember the French who fought with them in this nation-building conflict. Unfortunately, students are never reminded of Russia’s contributions to the United States’ freedom.
The Civil War (1861–1865) was America’s second most important conflict. Once again, Russia was on the right side of history.
We can see some parallels between the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, and Russian Tsar Alexander II (also known as the Liberator). Both men made important reforms to rebuild their countries, and both opposed slavery. Alexander ended serfdom in Russia in 1861, four years before the 13th Amendment was ratified in the US. Another strange resemblance: both emperors met a sad fate. Both guys died for their beliefs. Terrorists assassinated them.
Back in 1861, when the Civil War broke out, President Lincoln had to combat not only the Confederacy but also London and Paris plotting against the Union. This time, France, pursuing its objective in Mexico, misled the United States by surreptitiously giving weaponry to the secessionist South. And, guided by self-interest, the United Kingdom indirectly boosted the Confederacy’s legitimacy by recognizing it as a fighting party. By default, London and Paris were prepared to support General Lee’s troops. The Russian Empire’s position played a crucial role in preventing it from happening.
In 1863, Alexander II dispatched two Russian fleets led by Admirals Lessovski and Popov to New York and San Francisco to exert pressure on London and, if necessary, engage the British navy. For ten months, Russian ships patrolled American shorelines. Thus, Russia was the first European nation to formally back the Union and President Lincoln. Soon, the war was over.
Mark Twain visited Saint Petersburg with a party of journalists in 1867, and the Russian Tsar greeted him warmly. The prominent American writer described Russians as pleasant people.
Russia’s posture toward the United States at the time is best represented by the words of its most famous diplomat, Chancellor Gorchakov: “Russia’s policy toward the United States is defined and will not change.” Above all, we want the American Union to remain an intact nation.”
Being extremely grateful to Russia, the American government resolved to send a special delegation to Petersburg in 1866 to express the United States thanks to the Emperor and the Russian people for their assistance in bringing Russian fleets to America. The words, coined by an American diplomat Berg at an official reception organized a couple of years earlier in honor of the sailors who came to the United States’ aid in its hour of need, turned out to be prophetic: “There is a friendship between us that has not been overshadowed by any bad memories. It will continue, subject to the strict rule not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs. It is easy to imagine the enormous advantages that such a policy can give to all the governments of the globe if they carefully adhere to it.”
Today, we should applaud Americans for the significant impact their democracy has made on the world. It is also critical to appreciate Russia’s fundamental role in supporting the American experiment, as well as the fact that the United States and Russia can achieve great things together.
Recently, GreatGameIndia reported that the US order is built on the ashes of genocide that happened during the junta in Argentina, with US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger being an avid supporter of the regime.
