Final answer:
Lafayette is considered an improbable leader to the American Revolution because he was a French aristocrat with no prior inclination to oppose colonial powers, yet he embraced the cause of American independence. Figures like Toussaint Louverture and Napoleon also rose to prominence on the promise of liberty and equality, with varying degrees of allegiance to these ideals. George Washington successfully led the diverse American forces to victory, establishing a new democratic nation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Marquis de Lafayette, often known simply as Lafayette, can be considered an improbable leader to the American Revolution due to his background and nationality. Lafayette was a French aristocrat and military officer who became a key figure in both the American and French Revolutions. His involvement in the American Revolution was unexpected because he was neither American nor someone who had previously shown a tendency to oppose colonial powers. Despite this, Lafayette embraced the cause of American independence and played a significant role as a leader in the Continental Army, illustrating the international nature of these revolutionary ideals.
During the same era, leaders like Toussaint Louverture in the Haitian Revolution and Napoleon during the French Revolution rose to prominence under the banner of liberty and equality. Louverture, a former slave, became a general and the leader of the Haitian Revolution, fighting for the freedom and self-determination of the Haitian people against colonial rule. Despite initially supporting the principles of the French Revolution, France eventually became hostile towards Louverture, fearing the spread of revolution and loss of control over its colonies. Napoleon himself was also a product of the French Revolution, rising to power and spreading revolutionary ideas throughout Europe, though his ultimate actions would contrast with some of the democratic principles he claimed to uphold.
In contrast, American leaders like George Washington faced the daunting task of unifying a diverse group with limited resources to fight for the colonies' independence from Great Britain. The struggle for independence culminated with the British surrender at Yorktown, leading to the creation of a new nation founded on democratic principles. These principles would become a model for other nations and revolutions that followed, including the unsuccessful American attempt to engage French Canadians in their cause against the British Empire.