History of the United States I / Unit 8 USH1 1070 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Citizen Genêt
Captions available
The idea
France sent Edmond-Charles Genêt in seventeen ninety-three, authorised to issue letters of marque, documents authorising ships and crews to engage in piracy.
In practice
Genêt commissioning American privateers and organising volunteer militias to attack Spanish holdings.
Where people slip
Britain then instructed its West Indies commanders to seize all ships trading with France, taking hundreds of American vessels.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Unlocks
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for History of the United States I