Chapter 4 - Protecting Trade and Supply Lines

Summary

Conquest of the French Islands

In the 1780s, between the end of the War of American Independence and the outbreak of the French Revolution, French commerce achieved a period of unprecedented prosperity. Trade between the French colonies in the West Indies linked with trade with the United States as a result of the alliance during the War of American Independence was the primary cause of economic growth. Colonial trade was dominated by Bordeaux, which acted as a focal point for distribution of colonial goods throughout Northern Europe and also possessed a range of industries situated along the tributaries of the River Garonne that produced household goods and plantation utensils which were shipped to the colonies. Parts of this manufacturing industry had been modernised along British lines shortly before the Revolution, but in general were not able to compete with industries within France when their colonial markets collapsed. Nantes and La Rochelle played a part in the commerce with the West Indies, supplying slaves for the plantations and importing sugar and other commodities. A specialised organised trade from Bordeaux was that with the East Indies, organised through L’Ile de France (modern-day Mauritius). This demanded larger ships and considerable risk capital. Whereas commerce with the West Indies required ships of around 100–150 tons, East Indiamen were upward of 400 tons and similar in size and armaments to naval frigates. After abandonment of the French East India Company presence in Madagascar, the Mascarene Islands of Bourbon and L’Ile de France grew in importance. Both had been occupied earlier by the French, but became more firmly established with a military garrison during the era of John Law. Each had a governor until 1727, after which the position was demoted to a military commander under the direction of the commandant general stationed in Pondicherry. Seven years later in 1734, a further administrative change created one governor-general in control of civil and military matters on both islands.

In India the French presence was primarily in Pondicherry on the Coromandel Coast and Chandarnagar in Bengal. Both encompassed a territory under French jurisdiction.