America 250: Revolution & Constitution, Class 4 - The Year of the French - 1778

This lecture program explores 1778 as “The Year of the French,” a pivotal turning point in the American Revolution when France formally entered the war on the side of the American cause. Attendees will examine how French military and naval support, through leaders such as the General Rochambeau, Admiral de Grasse, and the Marquis de Lafayette, reshaped the course of the conflict and strengthened the prospects for American independence. The program will also highlight the broader Franco‑American alliance and the enduring legacy of these key French figures in the Revolutionary story.
Instructor: Robert Kelly graduated from Old Dominion University in 2009 with a B.A. in History and began his career as a Historian at Fort Monroe National Monument in 2011, focusing on African American and Franco-American histories. Since 2020, Robert has been Director of the Gloucester Museum of History, near Yorktown, VA, site of the 1781 Battle of the Hook. He also serves as VP of the American Friends of Lafayette, and co-directed the recent Lafayette Bicentennial. Robert was awarded the 2024 Médaille d'Honneur du Souvenir Français for strengthening U.S.-France relations. He is President of the Fort Monroe Historical Society, President of the Peninsula Museums Forum, and Co-chair of the Gloucester250 Committee. He resides at Fort Monroe, visited by General Lafayette in 1824.