Final answer:
The French Navy provided crucial assistance to the Americans during the Revolutionary War, including in Chesapeake Bay. However, the provided information about an American commander sinking his own ships for a blockade doesn't allude to any foreign navy's assistance. The details describe the complexities of naval warfare between Britain and America in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which Navy Helped the Americans During the War?
The question pertains to a historical event during which a navy aided American forces by obstructing British access to Chesapeake Bay. Although the provided information does not state explicitly which foreign navy assisted, it is historically known that the French Navy played a pivotal role during the American Revolutionary War in this capacity. In the late stage of the War of 1812, the British fleet aimed to blockade American ports and gained the upper hand when the Napoleonic Wars turned in favor of Britain. As a result, they were able to focus more resources on the American conflict, including a campaign in the Chesapeake area where they burned Washington, D.C.
The actions described regarding the American naval commander sinking his own ships to block the British fleet are directly related to defensive tactics employed by American forces to prevent the British from seizing American vessels. This incident does not relate to aid from another navy. However, understanding the context of naval warfare during that period, including the Embargo Act of 1807 and the impression of American sailors by the British, contributes to a broad picture of the difficulties faced by the American fleet against British naval dominance.
Napoleonic Wars influenced Great Britain's military involvement, as they were preoccupied with the fight against Napoleon, temporarily hindering their full engagement with the United States. Nonetheless, the British fleet effectively exerted power on the seas, including efforts to control Chesapeake Bay until external and situational developments shifted their focus.