by Mark Hopkins

Created on: May 26, 2007

There is no requirement to teach about the American War of Independence, (as it is known this side of the pond) and most students pass through the state school
system with no more than a general notion that, 'we used to rule America but they kicked us out.' Students DO have to study History up to the age of 14, but then it becomes an optional subject, which fewer than 50% take.

This is not an anti-American thing; very little is taught about the British Empire or how it was given up after the Second World War. Typically, a student aged 11-14 will spend 1 1/2 or maybe 2 hours studying History per week. This amounts to 180 to 240 hours over three years. In each year there are some legally prescribed events or periods which MUST be taught: Britain 1066-1500, Britain 1500-1750, Britain 1750-1900; A European Study pre1914; A World Study pre1900; A World Study post1900.

Within each of those teachers can make some choices, but as you can see, none of it screams out America 1776!

From the American perspective the 'Revolution' is of the greatest significance as it is the birth of an independent nation but, as others have remarked, to the British it is just another one of those events which, with hindsight we might have handled better but which was probably inevitable sooner or later.

It does seem to some people that a certain amount of 'mythology' has grown up around the 'Revolution'. There were plenty of Empire Loyalists remember. Not everyone saw a need to break away. There is also some truth that it was only after the defeat of the French threat in the French and Indian War that the various colonies could contemplate life without the British to protect them.

Leaving aside the red uniforms which made easy targets, the problem of fighting a war 3000 miles away across the sea in the face of a hostile population would tax an army nowadays. It was a lot harder given the communications available in 18th century. Compared to patriots who believed they were fighting for liberty, mercenaries generally are reluctant to die. There was a need to employ mercenary troops from the British point of view and given King George's German ancestry it made sense to recruit Germans.

It is important to realize how little representation the average Briton had in the late 18th century. Britons paid taxes imposed by a Parliament very few could vote for. The right to vote was usually based on a property qualification at this time, though there were exceptions. Most M.P.s were very wealthy men of property,

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>