US War of Independence

[techumseh]

The Americans had some hope of Quebecois assistance in both the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, but the Catholic Church took one look at the invading republican/puritan hordes and started preaching "Maybe the English aren't so bad after all!"

[techumseh]

Originally posted by Zkribbler
Don't forget Braveheart.

Wait a minute. You mean....?

[JohnT]

Re: US War of Independence

Originally posted by Toby Rowe
Well,

I want the facts seperated from the myths, so here are what may turn out to be a fact of a myth.

The rules are, all sources cannot be from either the US or the UK.

To make any proud Americans blood boil, a BBC 4 parter about 2-4 years ago stated some unusal "facts" on the war, my memory is crap, so I hope the Beeb doesn't sue this licence fee holder.....!

Dr. David Starkey stated that the Colonies ended up paying 1/100th the taxation my ansestors paid in the modern UK, whilst doing the same job.

He also said in this 4 parter that an agitator in Boston only became so once he realised his tea-smuggling ships now sat outside the harbour, with tea costing more than the now tax-free ships coming in.

Two million Americans voted with their feet and went elsewhere once the war was won, meaning that at best, the war was won with a maximum support of 40-50% at best, and at all times.

I personsally am pleased World History panned out in the way it did, but even aged 20 I felt "No taxatation without representation" was by far the best war-cry of those that wished independence above the majority.
My ancestors wanted it as well.

The chap also mentioned in detail the British refusing to allow exansion Westwards in case the native peoples got even more angry, and cited it as a major cause of frustration for all, pro and anti.

Washington was refused an Officership, which cost the royals dearly, and left him resentful, that was a costly mistake to the monarchy, and repeated to this day by the Army as it still is class-based to a larger extent.

(All of this is based upon the German-English vote that never happened in the US, that I posted in the London bombing thread of which page I can no longer see, on the following page and a reply- so here is the perfect chance to rid ourselves of myths and gain facts, I learn't that myth, then forgot it was thus when a US chap pointed me to a myth and fact site!).


Toby

Eh, no, that's pretty much standard knowledge to anyone who studies the Revolutionary War. It might not be taught in third-grade history class, but many of the things you mentioned were taught in high school and/or college.

Except the fact about Washington. We're told that the reason he was denied a commission/promotion was because of his bungling that touched off the Seven-Years War. Oops.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
Seriously though, I read a very recent article in which King George was shown to have a serious mental disorder. I can't remember which one it was, but he would go from a normal person to having spells where he became so mentally incapacitated that he could not administer much of anything.

Earlier he was portrayed as just being a d1ck, but now there is evidence he was physically and mentally ill.

Similar afflictions have been known to strike Presidents....

[Dauphin]

George III had porphyria, or "fear of poor people".

[Ted Striker]

Originally posted by molly bloom



Similar afflictions have been known to strike Presidents....

Cocaine induced brain damage?

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by Ted Striker


Cocaine induced brain damage?

I was thinking of Reagan's Disease: Amnesia In Absentiatitis and Bush's Syndrome- an inability to stay out of liquor stores whilst keeping Texas and Alabama safe from the Viet Minh.


And of course Kennedyosis- obsessive compulsive banging.

[Az]

obsessive compulsive banging
Ted Striker

[BeBMan]

Originally posted by Ted Striker


The Patriot is the most historically accurate account of the war ever produced. This is fact.

Yeah, even JohnT recommended it to me recently

[JohnT]

Click on the smilie to expose BeBro's lies...

[chequita guevara]

Re: Re: US War of Independence

Originally posted by JohnT
Except the fact about Washington. We're told that the reason he was denied a commission/promotion was because of his bungling that touched off the Seven-Years War. Oops.

Whilst a certain carpet-baggin' law-student might disagree with me, Washington wasn't all that great. He was just better than the idiots the British sent against us. Against an able commander, Washington would have been crushed in NY and the rebellion would have ended fairly early on.

Washington was notoriusly anti-democratic, at least as far as anyone who wasn't part of the elite was concerned. He threw free Blacks out of the Continental Army, ended the practice of electing officers, instituted corporal punishment, etc. However, he refused to become King, so we can at least thank him for that.

If Washington had been a loyalist, we'd have still won the Revolution.

[OzzyKP]

Re: Re: US War of Independence

Originally posted by JohnT
Eh, no, that's pretty much standard knowledge to anyone who studies the Revolutionary War. It might not be taught in third-grade history class, but many of the things you mentioned were taught in high school and/or college.

Except the fact about Washington. We're told that the reason he was denied a commission/promotion was because of his bungling that touched off the Seven-Years War. Oops.

Yea I agree. Details and exact figures seem a bit exagerated, but the general ideas are fairly well known.

Americans paid far less taxes than Brits. It wasn't the taxation that was the problem, it was the fact they weren't represented. The principle of the thing.

Yes there were many Americans who were loyalists and some went to Canada or Britain. That Canadian article seems to have pretty good numbers. 2 million is way too much. I always heard a third were patriots, a third were loyalists, and a third were neutral or indifferent.

[Ted Striker]

KENNEDYOSIS

[Zkribbler]

Re: Re: Re: US War of Independence

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
However, he refused to become King, so we can at least thank him for that.

Yeah, that was probably the single greatest threat to liberty in our history. Go Washington!

[Dr Strangelove]

Originally posted by Ted Striker
Seriously though, I read a very recent article in which King George was shown to have a serious mental disorder. I can't remember which one it was, but he would go from a normal person to having spells where he became so mentally incapacitated that he could not administer much of anything.

Earlier he was portrayed as just being a d1ck, but now there is evidence he was physically and mentally ill.

He suffered from Porphyria, a defect of heme synthesis that causes the accumulation of toxic metabolites that impair brain function leading to psychosis and dementia. He became ill towars the end of the American revolution, recovered after a few years, then relapsed during the Napoleonic era. Ironically his condition was treated with brandy. Alcohol is known to be one of the primary factors which trigger and esacerbate the disease. If he had been treated with the proper diet he might hvae recovered more quickly. Whether that would have been a good thing for history is another question.