Yeah. Because 39 years later the UK would have burnt down Washington, captured most of the US, and forced the US to surrender in a war (attempt at annexation) they started.
@@rhilou32 Yes. "Britain" is the replacement for England, when the person using it means the UK. However, Britain was the union of England and Wales before James VI (of Scotland) inherited the throne of England. Which ceased to be with the Union of crowns.
@@Mark-Haddow oh, my mistake... You have no idea what I meant. I meant the British Empire. I'm British. No need to try to prove you're right about something you're not 😂
@@rhilou32 OK dokey. The British Empire was a concept, not an actual thing. Hong Kong, for example, was a lease agreement, not colonialism. Most of the nations that would vote for self determination already had sovereignty. And some who claim to be sovereign democracies are actually governed in line with UK law. Australia, in this regard. The King has the power to remove the PM of Australia (whoever that is this month) and install a UK representative as governor-general. The Queen did this in 1975.
@@matthewjamison Funny you mention that because the Nazis said during the Nuremburg Trials they seen how America treated the Native Americans and learnt how to better intern Jews in ghettos and it's racism was an inspiration to Hitler...
Lawrence is seriously overselling how much Brits think about Americas independence day. Naturally as a Brit living in America he has a lot of thoughts on the matter (also he blows a lot of smoke up his mainly American audience). I think for most of us living in the UK, although we are aware of it, it wouldn't really cross our minds at all if it wasn't all over the Internet every year.
It's more like, oh god it the 4th of July, here we go, the yanks are going to go on about i, how they beat us. Get over it. Did you fight in that war? no you didn't, so who cares!!
I was oblivious until I got internet 17 years ago..you know we watch the odd American film on TV but that's as far as we ever think of USA..some watch their hundreds of series but I hardly ever did..playing cowboys and Indians in my childhood and a few westerns was about it..and the US turning up half way through the second world war said my father..I'm far more interested in Canada all my life..I have had dozens of family all over the Provinces from Nova Scotia to BC..America's just that smaller area below
@@snoopy10411 ... wouldn't you rather compare it to a better example of our Remembrance Day 11/11 which is in most Brits opinion the most important respectful day on our annual calender where every British person gives thanks to those who gave their lives for us today..but 99.99% Americans are totally unaware not that we celebrate with fireworks of course..I don't think Guy Fawkes night is significant and should've been abolished before I was born..and as for Halloween we should not have been corrupted by American influence with it or in school leaving proms..yes I'm an old fossil but I have my values and morals sorted
Obviously it's going to be an important day for Americans. However, for the British it's just one of many countries that got independence from us. We didn't spend too much time on it in history, not out of bitterness but because it wasn't a major event in our nation's history in the great scheme of things. Funnily enough I'm the other way round, my great-grandfather left the States around 1890 and moved to the UK.
Its nice that most Americans are so patriotic but I think most foreigners don't think too much about it. I think most Europeans are more pragmatic about their countries? USA independence is "water under the bridge" and probably doesn't matter to anyone any more
Americans kind of need to be patriotic. After all, for most other countries, their long History and deep-rooted culture speaks for itself. America doesn't have these things and so relies of it sense of patriotism to maintain a cultural identity for its people.
I'll be honest, I forgot it was even happening. Most Brits really don't care (with the greatest respect.) Do Americans care about November 5th? Exactly.
Yeah I don't think this video really gives a particularly good perspective of the British attitude, the guy that made it has openly been living in the states for presumably years at this point if he's become a citizen and I think that's skewed his point of view. If you asked a british person that actually lives in Britain if they're doing anything on the 4th of July the response you'd get from 99%+ of them would be "Why? What's happening on the 4th?". Also I don't doubt that places in London have started putting on events for it but that will be purely to appeal to tourists and Americans living in the city, there's a reason it's not happening in the rest of the country.
@@AJMorganLoL I've lived in London for 65 years, I've worked in pubs in central London that are popular with tourists, I know Americans who live here and only once have I seen or attended anything 4th of July themed and that was a barbeque for someone whose birthday falls on that day. They're Britishand there was lots of American themed food (but without all the additives and preservatives!). I did hear big fireworks two nights ago in the direction of Vauxhall, but that's where the American Embassy is, now they've moved from Grosvenor Square.
@@AJMorganLoLso true. We just don't think about it. We don't care or give it a passing thought. It's a massive deal for Americans, which makes sense. It's one tiny part of the many parts of our history that makes up the rich tapestry of our long history. 5th November is the only date of significance that's celebrated in England. The only other dates that are marked are Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
British history is so old that we spend a lot of time being taught about a lot of other things. Were talking history that preceeds even the Romans here. The American independance story gets a footnote really, not because we dont respect it but because theres thousands of other years to learn about.
Oh right, because nothing happened in the continent of America before Europeans got here so before 1492 nothing...geez. I'm not from the US and I studied in Argentina, the history you learn at school starts about 7000+ years ago because believe or not...there were people here [audible gasp], look up Chinchorro mummies, oldest mummies in the world. Also, we are taught about other places' history, do you even learn anything about any other continents' history? cause we can tell you a lot about the territories now called France, UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Egypt, Morocco, Russia, China, Japan, etc. do you learn anything about Asian or African history? if I say Sengoku Jidai or Mansa Musa the First traveling to Mecca, does that mean anything to you? Is not that you are busy learning your terribly extensive history lol, is that y'all don't give two shits about other places and that mindset helps a lot to keep imperialism alive.
At the time America independence had minimal impact on the British Empire. "In July 1776, an estimated 2.5 million people lived in the 13 colonies". When the British Empire still had about 60 million people after the Americans left. We carried on selling stuff to "The Colonies", without the cost of defending them anymore. They were not on a trade route to somewhere important. The American Revolution barely gets a mention in our history lessons, and most Brits don't even think about it on the 4th July.
Plus why would the country get so worked up over an event taking place half way round the world when there were more pressing things to deal with at home with several other major global powers on our doorstep fighting both Britain and each other. At this point in history the whole world was very busy, Britain being no exception with events like the 7 years war, the industrial revolution, wars in India, wars around the world against France and Spain, the settling of Australia and New Zealand, the fight against smallpox, amongst other things. The day is a big deal for Americans because they act like it's the beginning of all history. It's the start of their nation but 1 event among thousands of years of history for us.
Thanksgiving is ridiculous anyway. It celebrates a meal (which probably never happened) that was supposedly meant to symbolise peace between the British and natives, but after the war of independence the Americans just killed most of them anyway. That's like Russia celebrating the Nazi-Soviet pact - another 'supposed peace deal' that was equally effective.
Hi Steve The average Brit living in the UK doesn't really think about it at all. It's only if they know any Americans then they will wish them a happy independence day but that's about it. As for history in the UK we have a massive period of time before the USA was even a thing. We have over a thousand yrscof history so American history is such a tiny part of British history that it doesn't feature much in any history lessons in schools
Never even heard it mentioned in my life till I got internet about 17 years ago..not sure if I saw any reference in America films..none that I recall..as everyone else points out..we have far too much more important history that changed Britain..apart from American involvement in HALF of the second world war I've never given them a thought..cowboys and Indians is all the interest I ever had..and that was just childhood..I've been far more interested in Canada where half my relatives live..
@@markianclark9645 first learned about it from Assassins Creed 3 - and from what I learned it seems that you guys sure got a lot of help from the Assassins :)
a major reason for the american independence movement was so that the colonies could push west without the British holding them back. The British had made prior peace deals with the natives and also felt that going to war with them would mean more trouble than it was worth. The Americans felt that the British were holding them back and so started a war.
without the war, it is likely that the natives would have been far better off. Given how the British Empire treated their other colonies (which was cruel and often very racist - but better than wiping them out)
As a Brit who lived in the US for 24 years I never experienced the “arrogant” July 4th-ers. I had a few hilariously ask me if we celebrate it in the UK to which I would laugh and say “no it’s just another Tuesday” 😂. Was merely a bunch of soon-to-be ex-British people wanting to expel more British people because they didn’t like over-taxation.
I have to mention this, my wife and I were in Jamaica on holiday last week and there were many, many Americans at the hotel. They asked what the staff were going to do to celebrate 4th July and were extremely put out when told there was nothing planned!!
I am British and other than knowing it is something done in the US, it means nothing to me. In reality, wars with other countries Britain was involved in elsewhere at the time were more concerning. Also, with Britain being a trading nation, continuing trade between the new USA and Britain was very significant.
It's possible that if we, the British, had won the American War of Independence, we would have faced very serious opposition to the abolition of slavery - an institution that the US wrung their hands over for almost 100 years before the banks eventually burst with their civil war. It's still an issue for them today. It took them another 100 years to pass the 1965 Civil Rights Act.
Not even, had the British won they'd have been apart of the British Empire which purchased the freedom of EVERY slave in the Empire it was only paid back in 2015.
After all slavery was banned in the UK since 1066 with William the Conqueror, and the slavery abolitionist movement was already in place in the UK even before the independence war. It was a major reason that America wanted to seperate from Britian
@@tumblej8890 Yes, I think the "no taxation" stuff was a convenient cover. There was nothing like universal sufferage back in the home country until the 20th century.
@@johntomlinson6849 It also was a smoke screen for the American 'Manifest Destiny' that could not occur until Britain's 'ownership' of the colonies ended, and with that the rendering invalid of treaties Britain had made with the indigenous tribes that promised no expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains.
Right, because winning the war with America wouldn't have secured Great Britain as a global superpower. UK : "We had much bigger fish to fry than becoming a global superpower.." that's how you sound.
@@V0ltronBritain was the world super power...they controlled 25% of the world and held the largest empire ever seen before or since...so yep the war of independence was just a footnote with much larger fish to fry...the leadership of the uk didn't even care about the Americas they didn't support the army there much and felt it was too far away to bother spending the money on logistics that is necessary to win the war...plus another point it wasn't Americans that beat the English...it was English and other European immigrants who became American once they won :-) the founding fathers were mostly from Europe and understood their enemy because of this.
Patriotism is also being able to recognise what is wrong with your country and accept it,and doing what you can to change it.Patriotism is working to make the lives of your countrymen better
That’s certainly not the way a portion, let’s say 35%, of the US sees it. They want nothing to change other than to go back to a faux-religious inspired agenda which excludes people if it doesn’t conform to their legacy ideals. They think they’re patriots tho 😂
@@faithpearlgenied-a5517 And even more unfortunate is the hatred and intolerance amongst its citizens who hold seemingly unbridgeable religious/moral and political views.
Absolutely ! I’ve always said I criticise my country BECAUSE I’m patriotic and I want to be proud of my country and if they are doing the wrong thing I cannot be proud of that. I am however SO proud of the NHS and even poor Americans who can’t afford healthcare in Americas shameful big pharma con they STILL view free healthcare as “communism” rather than dare criticise the fact a pill that cost 30p / 50cents in uk can easily cost 30 dollars in the USA because of the shameful protectionism in the American medical market . No one will criticise the great Usa and that’s why when. Some people get cancer they are declared bankrupt and literally are worth more to their families dead than alive because of those insurance companies which are immoral. But nothing changes and never will until you call it out.
I find it comical. They declared independence years before the end of the war in 1783 and the war ended in a treaty called the Paris Treaty signed in Paris, France. Does no one ask why their war of independence was ended in a treaty signed in Paris, France? They've completely written out of history _Marshal Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general whose army played a critical role in helping the United States defeat the British Army at Yorktown in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War_ A little real history: _Spanish, French, British, and American representatives signed a provisional peace treaty on January 20, 1783, proclaiming an end to hostilities. The formal agreement was signed at Paris on September 3, 1783. The U.S. Confederation Congress ratified the treaty on January 14_ So really their independence day is January 14th... I believe the comte de Rochambeau is only reference to the Americans as the name for the game Rock/Paper/Scissors... Not much recognition for a French nobleman commanding an army aiding the American war of independence. Like all history it's all fabricated, modified and revised to fit their current political and social beliefs. History isn't facts to them it's a story they support their culture with. Facts are just inconvenient truths they decide to ignore if it doesn't fit their narrative.
Many Americans act like history began when the settlers arrived there and have little knowledge of history beyond what happens in the US so it's not surprising they also don't even consider the involvement of non US nations in the war.
We did get told about the Boston Tea Party and the American War of Independence in History classes at school in the UK, but it was literally bushed over as part of one single lesson.
Very happy for you, very grateful for us 😅 I don't know why you'd be so sure we'd learn about it other than a quick mention. We had thousands of years of history to learn, about our country and the world! Losing the US was such a tiny, insignificant part (no offence lol)
It means so much to me that I didn’t realise it had been the 4th of July until I saw the date on the 5th! I can’t remember it being mentioned in history lessons in school (admittedly that was many, many years ago!) I think we all love our various countries but mainly seem to be a bit more pragmatic rather than the unadulterated praise of a substantial amount of citizens of the USA, which smacks of jingoism rather than patriotism.
Hi Steve great vid, as an American how do you feel when the Philippines has its independence day? Not much probably, its an ex American colonial possession, for the UK now add another 100 more nations and peoples to the list of independence days we have a year. Not trying to be glib about it, these are all important for the people concerned, good on you, but it was 250 years ago so its just not that important for us, the same as when the French celebrate Bastille day, good on ya lads 👏 👍 🎉
What Americans seem to forget is that without France spending a vast amount of money and resources (including troops and their navy) the war would have been over very quickly, and this actually helped lead to the French revolutionary war due to being close to bankrupcy (among other reasons). The money it would have cost the UK and with there being more important things to deal with as well as the vast cost it was just deemed not worth it. Some Americans seems to have the "we did it on our own" mentality for a lot of wars but it's just not the case, and I think that's what upsets a lot of people, especially with the world wars.
I thoroughly enjoy wishing Americans "Happy Traitors Day" every year. Most take it as the joke it is but some get offended and play the "How do you feel about....." ego card. I just remind them America didn't exist until after the war, so technically we beat ourselves. Usually puts them in their place.
Got into a fun little argument with an american about how George Washington was a traitor. I live a stones throw away from Washington Old Hall, where his faimily lived when they were the Lords back then. If his faimily were English Lords then hes a Traitor. Simple as that. No hate to the americans though, its just a fun little tibbit to mention.
Exactly this 😂 it's their arrogance showing through. It's so big to them, they can't comprehend that it's nothing to us. Bless em, the US is a bit like an over enthusiastic, attention seeking child who needs a pat on the head.
@@lukespooky I understood it just the same. Americans say weird stuff all the time, especially since Mr Webster made up his own version of English and created a dictionary just for Americans, thus destroying the etymology of English words! Take tire and tyre, or curb and kerb, as examples, all four words have different meanings but Webster deleted two of them!
First time I have commented on this channel, but I totally agree with the subject of this video. You are a good guy and your perspective is very realistic. Thanks.
I think that's what it fell under when I was taught about it too, but it was just a tiny drop in both that long running saga and our history as a whole, so we didn't spend much time learning about it.
I see America as a sibling… not a cousin. I know about Independence Day and always make sure to wish my American friends a Happy Independence Day. I’m happy they are enjoying a wonderful time with friends and family. I’m so happy that on the whole we are a strongly bonded ally even after that happened.
It wasn't really Americans against Brits.. It was ex Brits fighting against Brits... Pretty sure had "Americans" won, the native Americans would have much better lives... 🙄 We do celebrate 4th July Steve... For the same reason you guys do! Lucky escape! 😂😂😂 Patriotism is one thing, what freaks us out is the thought of kids having to pledge allegiance every day in school. That wouldn't fly here. We mostly all love our country, but not necessarily the people running it at times. Our patriotism isn't really linked to politics or flags or pledges, but more to history and traditions. It's pride in our culture and identity. It's a strange thing to celebrate winning a war I think. If we take World War Two as an example, we and our allies defeated the Nazis, and that's something to be proud of, but you don't really hear anyone here patting themselves on the back for "winning" the war. Certainly none of us alive now had anything to do with it anyway, but even older generations didn't brag about "winning the war" because, nobody wins at war. Germany also lost millions of young men, some still children when they were recruited, and whilst a lot of them may have fought with pride, most of them didn't really have a choice. I think what we celebrated at the end of world war two, wasn't the winning as such...it was the relentless determination to endure and how it paid off in the end. My parents were born and lived in the East End of London, at the heart of the worst bombing. My Dad would play in the rubble on the streets, he did his national service after the war when he was old enough, but hadn't been old enough to fight during, although his older brothers did. My Nan and Granddad lived in the same flat before, during and after the war and refused to move. My Nan, like most other housewives, gave up pots and pans to be melted down for ammunition and rationing was so severe it lasted until 1954 I believe. Listening to my grandparents, parents and aunts and uncles when i was growing up, I never heard any hint of bragging, instead it was pride in the British people en masse, for refusing to roll over and give in. They would burst into songs or burst into laughter reminiscing about those years, even though you'd think they hadn't had much to laugh about. British pride tends to be about not giving up or giving in, even when the odds are stacked against you. It's a matter of principle and sheer indignation at someone's bare faced cheek! We really do KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON. I do think the Americans and Brits differ greatly when it comes to conceitedness and arrogance, and i think it has a lot to do with you being raised under a flag and told to love it. Americans tend to brag about winning, about BEING the best, whereas Brits are more proud of DOING their best, regardless if they win or not. The only time you'll really hear us rubbing someone's nose in our victory, is perhaps football if England play Germany in the World Cup, or for telling Americans we celebrate 4th July because WE were the ultimate winners with our lucky escape! 😂 But, Americans do tend to make that a satisfactory pleasure because of their (typical) arrogance. It makes them so easy to wind up! 🤣 The fact you dislike arrogance so much proves there's more Brit in you than just some past ancestry. You've got more than a hint of Britain still coursing through your veins Steve! Especially in your eyes when looking at our buildings and history. That's what it is to be British really, the connection to our history, and keeping our traditions alive, even if some of them are completely bonkers! 🤪
Being of British descent on my mom's side I totally agree with your statement: "Our patriotism isn't really linked to politics or flags or pledges, but more to history and traditions. It's pride in our culture and identity." So much so that when I holidayed in GB, I did not feel as if I were in a foreign country. My mom told me of the letters from her cousins in England during WWII recounting the bombings. At the risk of attracting 'haters', the Canadian Identity was once defined as 'not being American'. 🍁
@@chong2389 well you're in the Americas...but you're Canadian, so you're very similar to us. ♥️ I'm glad you felt welcome and at home when you came here. We like people, we like talking and we like to get to know about other people's lives. Just a couple of miles down the road from me, and I can actually just about see it from my house, is a castle, which the public can visit and see some of the stately rooms within. But the rest of the castle is actually a Canadian school for exchange students! 😘😘😘
@@chong2389 Queen's University....Bader College... Here's a little snippet from their details.... An outstanding opportunity whatever your level of study Queen's University is the only university in Canada where students can complete their entire first year of study overseas. Take advantage of our small class sizes and start university life with us. Find out more about our First Year programming here.
The revolutionary war was tragic in a way as it was brothers fighting brothers. What were essentially overseas British citizens and former soldiers taking up arms against the government. The general public back in Britain campaigned pretty hard to end the war so I’ve never really viewed it as a defeat, more so conceding to popular sentiment
Not just the French, Spanish and Dutch also. The British Empire was fighting 3 empires while also fighting the 13 colonies and all of them nearly lost to an army that was nothing more than a token force sent lmfao.
Im the same as you. I hate the arrogance of some people on both sides of the pond with winning and losing. Always seems to come up whenever america and the uk are against each other in sports etc. The most annoying one is us brits would be speaking german if it wasnt for the yanks. It was a joint effort guys. allied forces being exactly that allies!!!
Happy 4th Steve to you and your fellow countrymen 🎉 It’s good to see you celebrating your wonderful country. That’s how I feel about it as a Brit. I don’t think many UK peeps see it as anything more than a country celebrating its history , certainly no ill feelings or resentment at all
My ancestor was Phillip Singh - a master silversmith whose family was originally from Ireland, who made the inkstand into which the "pen" was dipped to sign the American Independence document. The inkstand still exists and is beautifully crafted. He was there at the signing with his good friend Benjamin Franklin having both studied the origin and then invention of electricity together.
As a brit living in south London I've been to the States on July 4th and had a great time but can't confess to having any real thoughts about independence day except for our chairman and owner of Millwall FC that was a truly great American gentleman and was loved at our club but died on Tuesday 4th July 2023 in a tragic car accident in Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts......RIP MR JOHN BERYLSON.........respect.
The only thing I remember learning about the American War of Independence in school was when we studied the French Revolution in year 9. Apparently, one of the causes of the underlying discontent in France before the revolution was that French soldiers had fought for Americans to have rights that they didn't have back home.
I wonder how many times the national anthem was sung on the 4th of July, and I wonder how many people knew it was sung to the tune of a British song? oh the irony 😂
We've been through a lot together and the friendship gets stronger as time goes on. My father was a Royal Marine in WW2 & met a soldier from Boston. They stayed friends all their lives after the war, visiting each other, exchanging Christmas gifts & letter writing throughout the years and that instilled a great loyalty from my brother & I for Americans. We share a language, enjoy each other's music, cinema, TV and other art forms & unite in the sad times. I think we're lucky to have each other so, personally, when the 4th July comes around all I want is for the USA to have a great time.
Nothing at all, theres more than one independence day per week from the British empire. The only thing i think really is do Americans actually know why it all happened. Also they do teach it in English schools but in passing as its not really that important. And as for the US defeated the British empire it certainly isnt so they wouldn't lf stood a chance if the British actually valued it. And you're absolutely right its not like anyone was actually involved in it.
Steve it's not even thought of , I don't think I even learnt about it in school , I suppose it's just a blip in our long history . Bless you I agree arrogance is not an attractive trait .
Hi Steve, in my home town of Hastings we have an area called the America Ground. In the early 1800 it was a somewhat lawless and contested area. Bailiffs were appointed to clear the undesirables but the residents rioted and raised the Stars and Stripes to show their independence and kept it flying until the end of their occupation. Today it is celebrated by the name and remembered with a wall painting of the American flag close to what was the entrance to the area of "The America Ground".
I agree, I keep saying in my comments that Steve should not keep watching him, he's not actually getting any insight into the way we think and our attitudes. He's getting what the idiot thinks is happening.
Britain lost a few relatively small colonies when we had more important wars going on at the time. American independence is not taught at all in schools, nor that of Nigeria, Jamaica, Egypt, Kenya plus the 50+ others who have gained independence, many of whom joined the British Commonwealth as a result. It is really nothing at all. We only actually hear about it because our news TV shows Americans banging on about it. Enjoy your day. 😉
I've never thought about it ever to be honest. It's just not a thing outside of the US. I'm more likely to think of the film than anything to be honest.
Hi Steve, Yes the 4th of July is totally an American thing, and so it should be. It's great that Americans have pride and patriotism in the success you gained. We at home here in the Uk are aware of your Independence day celebrations, and speaking for myself, I hope you all had a fantastic time. As mentioned below, we don't really mention the revolutionary war other than to make reference when learning about the war against France and Spain, which as you know we were fighting at the same time. But again, we don't tend to celebrate individual victories or losses of any war to be truthful. We have armistice day (or rememberance Sunday) which is obviously a solomn occasion, but a recognition of all who have given the supreme sacrifice for our Nation from all wars throughout our history. We don't even celebrate the results of our own civil war, which when you look at it, and as mentioned by you here, is what the Independance war was, brother against brother. Do Americans celebrate your Civil war? or alternatively do they recognise the fall of Fort Washington and the Battle of White House Landing in 1814? The only real celebration day we have is the 5th of November and the gunpowder plot of 1605 'Remember, remember the 5th of November, Of Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no good reason, why gunpowder and treason, should ever be forgot.' This we celebrate with Bonfires, fireworks, soup, mushy peas and mint sauce, Bonfire Toffee, Toffee apples, tea or coffee, or pop (soda) for the kids. No alcohol as it's a family day, but those who want to inbibe just go to the Pub instead 🙂 Keep up the good work .... Terry UK
Laurence is now US citizen he loves America . If you watch all his videos he talks about as a child having loving USA. I personally don’t think or have any interest when it’s 4th July. No we didn’t learn it in school it’s not relevant
The Today I Found Out channel has a good video about how we are taught about the Revolutionary War in the UK - maybe worth a look for you. Simon Whistler presents it, and it was posted 2 years ago.
Not everyone is as unaware as the guy in the video. I think most Brits have at least a basic understanding of what happened in 1776. But saying that, July 4th is not really a thing in the UK. We don't celebrate it, but we don't "mourn" the loss of America either. When we think of July 4th we think of Americans eating too much and dressing up in silly outfits and celebrating and watching fireworks.
I'm Scottish, and I rarely think about American Independence. I do find the history of Scottish migration to the US interesting but I genuinely rarely think about American Independence. There's just such a lot of history to learn. When I was at secondary school in the eighties and early nineties we focussed on modern history, but what we really learned was the skills of an historian - researching, evaluating sources, and undertaking our own research projects. They couldn't go into depth and yet cover a wide range of subjects. At Primary School we did Norman invasion of England, the Stuart dynasty, and the Industrial revolution in Britain. Scottish primary schools now tend to focus on what was happening in Scotland a lot more than they did when I was there. I don't think our schools had an huge amount of funding either - so I'm guessing that influenced what they taught, if they've got thirty copies of a textbook and the teacher knows that topic, they're not going to suddenly decide to teach something entirely new. I don't remember even learning much about the British Empire - we tended to focus more on social history, and we learned about other countries in our Geography and Modern Studies classes. We DID study a bit of American history for our Higher course (our version of the A Level) - but that was as part of learning about the Cold War. I do have one question though - out of all of the nations who were part of the British Empire and gained independence, why would we focus on the U.S? I personally think that teaching things like the Partition of India would be much more relevant to school pupils today, so many of whom would have had ancestors directly affected by it. Your celebrations do sound like good fun though, I hope you've had a blast. I love those sorts of community events. I completely agree about your sentiments on patriotism.💚 I did think Laurence's cousin-in - law quietly and slowly edging him out of the tent was funny though🤣
I'm afraid the 4th of July passed me by the same as the previous 76. I would like you consider over 100 countries owe their independence from the UK so we ignore their independence days, hard to keep up with them all.😀😀
Yeah, we don't really focus on it much, the American War of Independence is kind of a footnote for us, we were far more concerned with France at the time, and it's generally referred to as an extension of one of the moves France made against us while we were squabbling with them.
I'm British (Scottish) and I think it's incredibly insulting to native Americans, considering the country was stolen from them. Aside from that no we aren't taught about it in school, we learn European history.
I am also British (Scottish) and was taught, though very briefly about the American fight for independence. We were taught about world history. But then, I'm a Highlander and we were taught better than most Scots. 😉
Remember, we have a lot of history to learn. From what I remember of school, we started with the Bronze Age. then the Iron Age, then the Roman Invasion of Britain. Through the Dark Ages, to the Tudors, the dicovery of the Americas and the formation of the British Empire. That is about as far as I got. All my modern history has come from TV and movies.
As well as what isnm42yt mentioned, we also covered a bit about the Stone Age too, but not a huge amount (less than I would have liked). Along with covering the Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, local (regional) history, English Civil War, Slave Trade (both the horrors of it and the abolition of the slave trade), the Industrial Revolution, small bits about various wars with Europe, mostly bits about France and then obviously the two world wars. There are probably other bits I've forgotten to mention. Oh, like the Crusades. I'll probably think of a few more things as soon as I post this. I didn't do History as a GCSE, so only had 9 years of it at school. That wasn't a lot of time to cram everything in when there's so much to learn. I've learnt more since leaving school and now thankfully know more than I didn't about some European history that didn't directly impact or involve us, so we were never taught. I was at school in the 90s so history stopped at WWII for me at school. Now they likely have stuff about the Cold war, fall of the USSR, Apartheid in South Africa etc. Stuff that wasn't history when I was younger. It was current. I imagine that's now taught, so other stuff is probably skimmed over more than it used to be. We have a long history and as years pass by, that history gets longer.
4th of July is just one of those things for me that, as soon as we get into July, I remember and say "oh yeah, the 4th of July is coming up" and then proceed to forget about it. It just isn't important to us. Now the 5th of November. On the days leading up to it I'll have a think on if I want to go to a fireworks display or maybe get some sparklers and glowsticks. Either way, I always watch the fireworks that go off near me and it's not a day I tend to forget about.
Yeah, I think you'll find you will sunburn much quicker in England at this time of year. Everybody glows golden brown in central and southern England during a typical summertime. Then, let's not get started on the usual sweating from the ridiculously muggy humidity in England at this time of year. Fancy another 10-15C on top of the shade temperatures anyone?!
The colonies revolting was a unimportant sideshow because we had wars to fight and 13 little colonies weren't worth the effort. It's taught a little more tactfully than that, but that's the footnotes version from a British perspective.
Few people mention or know about the indipendance day in the UK. Celibrated in the town of Queensborough on the 24th June each year on the Island of Sheppy, Kent England. To celebrate gaining indipendence from the Dutch 300 years after they invaded in 1667.
We celebrate 24th August (1812), Happy decorating the Whitehouse day. 😉👍 Mind you on April 22, 1778, Commander John Paul Jones leads a detachment from his ship, the USS Ranger and invaded the port of Whitehaven, England
Well, do we think about Guy Fawkes Day? No, because it doesn't pertain to our history. Same is true for them -- July 4th is just an ordinary day for the Brits, just like 5th of November is an ordinary day for us.
If the Gunpowder Plot had murdered the king and Parliament, the plan was to install a minor Catholic noblewoman as queen and have her as a puppet of Spain. The rest of this conversation would need to be in Spanish. The USA would not have come into being, so perhaps Americans should care.
In London on July 4th I’ve heard American tourists berating shops and restaurants for not celebrating Independence Day and also Americans visiting other countries and upset that there are no flags and other celebrations there either. Is it so difficult to understand that the US is the ONLY country to have this special time ???
Of course not Americans are insular we follow their elections special programmes I'm actually not interested they know nothing and don't care about our elections
i think the way patriotism in the US is expressed is very different to the UK and can seem a bit alien to Brits looking at it from the outside which i’m guessing would be the same the other way round.
Broadly: the UK spent a fortune defending the colonies during the Seven Years Wars, tried to recoup the cost via taxation, it didn't sit well with the British people who lived in the colonies. Canada by contrast, was pretty cool about it.
Yes, those in British North America were grateful for what General Wolfe did on the Plains of Abraham as well as being the place where those living in the 13 colonies could escape the persecution and violence of the colonists who rebelled.
Everyone in the states forgets that the Continental Congress also included Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland, Barbados and others, none of which chose to revolt.
Very few people will talk about it now, but one of the leading causes of the 'win' was Britain simply pulling out of the war to go fight else where it was more important. The Americans (former colonist) were left to their own devices for some years while Britain went about abolishing slavery under the Empire. As slavery was never legally recognized in England, it was not legal to buy and sell slaves for use in England, even though some people were still treated as slaves. Thus because of that, the Somerset case of 1772 held that slavery had no basis in English law, and this ruling helped to establish that slaves could not be forcibly transported out of England against their will. This was of course prior to the 1776 American independence, and in part why the war happened (or rather won). Remembering, that former colonies of the Americas wasn't just the British, it was the French, Spanish, Dutch and other European countries of the time, many of whom had now been born in America when they decided they wanted to keep their slaves and not follow the British. Britain went about hitting their home lands in trade slavery. It wasn't until Britain went around the world and quite literally forced countries to stop trading slaves, that slavery under the British Empire was abolished with the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833 with America finally falling inline in 1865 - one of the last countries in the world. The very fact that you sit there now, not a slave nor do you have slaves is because the British empire went away and made it happen. You were allowed to have the land you walk on, and the people that live there freely because the British abolished slavery.
also when you think about americans winning the war saying they beat us they also include their own ancestors in that sentence as a big portion of early america came from england, scotland, Ireland and wales so .... yep
I was taught about the war of independence at school, on the 4th of July. My history teacher was a yankophile, having been born there, but grew up here (he dropped early when his parents were on holiday). Most of the 'british' were colonial citizens who opposed the revolution. I remember the lesson well because he only had one double lesson to cover it (most topics got a full term of one or two history classes a week. One main topic got the double lesson and the other two single hour lessons were devoted to less complex topics but still lasted a full term). So he devoted much more care to the lesson plan to get everything in in two hours. He split the blackboard in two withnthe dividing line being the Atlantic. He took us through the sequence of events. Much of the time, nothing was happening in Britain. This was a diplomatic affair. Colonial revolutionaries fighting colonial loyalists over whether to let tea be taxed. The most the public of Britain did at the time was start drinking more tea. If they could afford it. Which most couldn't. Britain was far more worried about France and other European nations. Napoleon had just been defeated and Britain was broke. It had spent and borrowed a fortune. Much of that, but by no means all, was spent defending the American colonies against french raids. The colonies were getting much of their suppliss from Europe and those ships were laden with crew, goods and money. The French knew that for every ship intercepted, Britain would have to replace at cost, distracting from the war effort. Later, direct assaults by French forces on the colonies become a possibility and many crews of royal marines were sent to defend the ccolonies and died in battle. After that war, all colonies and territories were asked to pay extra taxes to help pay off the debt and replenish the military. The American colonies (the rich merchants there) kept refusing to pay. There was no will to send the military all the way across the Atlantic and the problem was very much left with the local colonial governors and councils. Eventually, some bureaucrats got miffed at being ignored and the matter was sent to the houses of Parliament. No one cared, but to save face, to make a token gesture, the import tax on tea was levied and it came with a note (ok, seriously now, pay this) and instead of merchant marines, royal marines. No body to take tea from the dock without payment of tax first. Tax being due as soon as it 'landed'. Hence throwing the tea into the water rather than letting it land. The land owners and merchants had been very clever. To avoid paying taxes they'd been whipping up the workers with the idea of constant taxes and no representation. The workers hadn't been paying taxes because they couldn't afford to buy the things it was levied on. The elites hadn't been paying either, but they HAD been buying those products. No worker had the right to vote anywhere in the Empire, only landowners had the right and and in the colonies the same was true. The land owners could vote for the councilors and they controlled most things under the Governor, who was selected the same way as a Lord in the house of lords. By the King. (Or a lackey, in his name). The rank and file revolutionary did not get much benefit from the change in master. They still couldn't vote until they owned land and they still had to pay local taxes like before. Just now, the money were going to the people who told them to be angry about taxation without representation. There was also the topics of native people and slaves. Voices against slavery were becoming louder in Britain as religious groups like the Quakers began to make headway. The British government had made deals with local native peoples not to expand in their territory and seemed serious about it (for the time being). Those rich landowners really liked that land to the west... they didn't like being told they had to leave it alone and respect nativve sovereignty. (I have no doubt the policy would have changed sooner rather than later, but at the time the founding elites wanted that land and the law said 'tough shit'). Finally, there were the French. Recently defeated but with significant experience fighting the British and still well armed, the revolutionary leaders reached out to them and hired them to fight the loyalist colonials and any troops that arrived from Europe. The same forces who had been trying to kill colonial citizens were now being hired as mercenaries to fight those who had defended the colonies from them, so that the taxes to repay for the defense of colonies could stay in the pockets of the rich revolutionary leadership. Ultimately, the war was too much hassle to commit to and thus the British never truly committed. The effort to wrangle the colonies at that distance was just not worth the meagre income the taxes would provide. Trade would still flow and the savings in administration costs would go a fair way to replace the lost taxes. Yet in America, people were stunned. Especially the poor. They had been sold the idea of the monstrous tyrannical empire who wanted to subjigate them and they had fought and won (albeit behind a line of french mercenaries). For decades the newly formed American psyche was terrified that an attack was coming. That Britain would suddenly invade and take back the colonies ... but nothing happened. Britain was the big evil. As such the new American psyche couldn't really accept their history as British citizens. It's the main reason that Americans will call themselves Irish American or Scots American etc but never English American. English Americans just called themselves American. That early American psyche was fragile and tried to support themselves by tying in very noble and grand principles to their declarations. We the people, the shining light on the hill, etc. This was in large part to combat imposter syndrome. They couldnt quite comprehend that they'd won and were immensely eagre to legitimise themselves as a nation rather than a rebellious movement. Despite the grand words, the laws still considered a black man 3 fifths of a man. There was no great rush to support the poor who had bled or the families of those who had died for independence.
I believe that's one of the main reasons we let them have independence - we had achieved everything - they spoke our language and looked like us, they held our values, we could trade with them.
I'm fairly sure that Chainsaw Jim is a fictitious character he's made up for humourous effect. There are a few of them, including Uncle Toby, his wife's cousin Chad and Suburban Sue.
Im English and on July 4th i posted an American flag with the headline "HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AMERICA " bcos i love you guys. Plus i have family in Richmond VA
The greatest ever victory in U.S history is nothing more than a mere footnote in British history.
Not even a mere footnote for Britain, its barely a whisper on the wind of the history of Britain.
Yeah. Because 39 years later the UK would have burnt down Washington, captured most of the US, and forced the US to surrender in a war (attempt at annexation) they started.
Technically it was a American, French and Spanish victory.
@@johnfox9482yup at Yorktown the French outnumbered Americans 4 to 1.
Brilliant quote. ❤❤👍👍
Over 60 countries celebrate Independence from Britain. If we cared about all of the Independence Days, we'd never get anything done.
No country does. Mostly because there's no such entity as Britain.
@@Mark-Haddow 🙄 You know exactly what I'm talking about.
@@rhilou32
Yes. "Britain" is the replacement for England, when the person using it means the UK. However, Britain was the union of England and Wales before James VI (of Scotland) inherited the throne of England. Which ceased to be with the Union of crowns.
@@Mark-Haddow oh, my mistake... You have no idea what I meant. I meant the British Empire. I'm British. No need to try to prove you're right about something you're not 😂
@@rhilou32
OK dokey. The British Empire was a concept, not an actual thing. Hong Kong, for example, was a lease agreement, not colonialism. Most of the nations that would vote for self determination already had sovereignty. And some who claim to be sovereign democracies are actually governed in line with UK law. Australia, in this regard. The King has the power to remove the PM of Australia (whoever that is this month) and install a UK representative as governor-general. The Queen did this in 1975.
I think I speak for 100 percent of Brits when I say, we honestly don’t give it a seconds thought. It’s irrelevant to us.
As Al Murray said. A victory for the Americans but the Brits see it as a lucky escape.
Not for the Indians. They wouldn't of got it half as bad under British rule.
Was just about to say same 😂😂😂
No we don't!|!!! Most of us don't care. It's not something we think about
Well said Andy Murray
@@matthewjamison
Funny you mention that because the Nazis said during the Nuremburg Trials they seen how America treated the Native Americans and learnt how to better intern Jews in ghettos and it's racism was an inspiration to Hitler...
Lawrence is seriously overselling how much Brits think about Americas independence day. Naturally as a Brit living in America he has a lot of thoughts on the matter (also he blows a lot of smoke up his mainly American audience). I think for most of us living in the UK, although we are aware of it, it wouldn't really cross our minds at all if it wasn't all over the Internet every year.
Plus his American wife went to a UK university, which is where he met her, when he too was a student.
It's more like, oh god it the 4th of July, here we go, the yanks are going to go on about i, how they beat us. Get over it. Did you fight in that war? no you didn't, so who cares!!
I was oblivious until I got internet 17 years ago..you know we watch the odd American film on TV but that's as far as we ever think of USA..some watch their hundreds of series but I hardly ever did..playing cowboys and Indians in my childhood and a few westerns was about it..and the US turning up half way through the second world war said my father..I'm far more interested in Canada all my life..I have had dozens of family all over the Provinces from Nova Scotia to BC..America's just that smaller area below
Yes, Independence day is thought of as much here in the UK as Bonfire night is in the U.S. Which is hardly at all.
@@snoopy10411 ... wouldn't you rather compare it to a better example of our Remembrance Day 11/11 which is in most Brits opinion the most important respectful day on our annual calender where every British person gives thanks to those who gave their lives for us today..but 99.99% Americans are totally unaware not that we celebrate with fireworks of course..I don't think Guy Fawkes night is significant and should've been abolished before I was born..and as for Halloween we should not have been corrupted by American influence with it or in school leaving proms..yes I'm an old fossil but I have my values and morals sorted
Obviously it's going to be an important day for Americans. However, for the British it's just one of many countries that got independence from us. We didn't spend too much time on it in history, not out of bitterness but because it wasn't a major event in our nation's history in the great scheme of things.
Funnily enough I'm the other way round, my great-grandfather left the States around 1890 and moved to the UK.
Its nice that most Americans are so patriotic but I think most foreigners don't think too much about it. I think most Europeans are more pragmatic about their countries? USA independence is "water under the bridge" and probably doesn't matter to anyone any more
Americans kind of need to be patriotic. After all, for most other countries, their long History and deep-rooted culture speaks for itself. America doesn't have these things and so relies of it sense of patriotism to maintain a cultural identity for its people.
until they want to migraine
@@tumblej8890 There is no imperialism without that founding myth so they need to keep it alive.
I'll be honest, I forgot it was even happening. Most Brits really don't care (with the greatest respect.) Do Americans care about November 5th? Exactly.
Yeah I don't think this video really gives a particularly good perspective of the British attitude, the guy that made it has openly been living in the states for presumably years at this point if he's become a citizen and I think that's skewed his point of view. If you asked a british person that actually lives in Britain if they're doing anything on the 4th of July the response you'd get from 99%+ of them would be "Why? What's happening on the 4th?".
Also I don't doubt that places in London have started putting on events for it but that will be purely to appeal to tourists and Americans living in the city, there's a reason it's not happening in the rest of the country.
@@AJMorganLoL I've lived in London for 65 years, I've worked in pubs in central London that are popular with tourists, I know Americans who live here and only once have I seen or attended anything 4th of July themed and that was a barbeque for someone whose birthday falls on that day. They're Britishand there was lots of American themed food (but without all the additives and preservatives!). I did hear big fireworks two nights ago in the direction of Vauxhall, but that's where the American Embassy is, now they've moved from Grosvenor Square.
He talking out his azz . We only notice it's July 4if the news sites mention it .
@@AJMorganLoLso true. We just don't think about it. We don't care or give it a passing thought. It's a massive deal for Americans, which makes sense. It's one tiny part of the many parts of our history that makes up the rich tapestry of our long history. 5th November is the only date of significance that's celebrated in England. The only other dates that are marked are Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.
British history is so old that we spend a lot of time being taught about a lot of other things. Were talking history that preceeds even the Romans here. The American independance story gets a footnote really, not because we dont respect it but because theres thousands of other years to learn about.
Oh right, because nothing happened in the continent of America before Europeans got here so before 1492 nothing...geez. I'm not from the US and I studied in Argentina, the history you learn at school starts about 7000+ years ago because believe or not...there were people here [audible gasp], look up Chinchorro mummies, oldest mummies in the world.
Also, we are taught about other places' history, do you even learn anything about any other continents' history? cause we can tell you a lot about the territories now called France, UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Egypt, Morocco, Russia, China, Japan, etc. do you learn anything about Asian or African history? if I say Sengoku Jidai or Mansa Musa the First traveling to Mecca, does that mean anything to you? Is not that you are busy learning your terribly extensive history lol, is that y'all don't give two shits about other places and that mindset helps a lot to keep imperialism alive.
@eleSDSU Jesus christ you sound like a barrel of laughs.
At the time America independence had minimal impact on the British Empire. "In July 1776, an estimated 2.5 million people lived in the 13 colonies". When the British Empire still had about 60 million people after the Americans left. We carried on selling stuff to "The Colonies", without the cost of defending them anymore. They were not on a trade route to somewhere important. The American Revolution barely gets a mention in our history lessons, and most Brits don't even think about it on the 4th July.
I forgot all about it this year until I saw this video 2 days later 😆
It's true. On tuesday it took me ten minutes to realise why I was the only one who had turned up to a regular meeting I have with a US company.
pillaging the colonies , treating the natives like shit and now we are an irrelevance
@@josiekaposie5783 get over it.
Plus why would the country get so worked up over an event taking place half way round the world when there were more pressing things to deal with at home with several other major global powers on our doorstep fighting both Britain and each other. At this point in history the whole world was very busy, Britain being no exception with events like the 7 years war, the industrial revolution, wars in India, wars around the world against France and Spain, the settling of Australia and New Zealand, the fight against smallpox, amongst other things.
The day is a big deal for Americans because they act like it's the beginning of all history. It's the start of their nation but 1 event among thousands of years of history for us.
As a Brit my thoughts on American independence are below..
*intentionally left blank*
🤣🤣🤣
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Nope, we Brits really couldn’t give a monkeys about US Independence Day, let alone Thanksgiving. 😂
Thanksgiving is ridiculous anyway. It celebrates a meal (which probably never happened) that was supposedly meant to symbolise peace between the British and natives, but after the war of independence the Americans just killed most of them anyway. That's like Russia celebrating the Nazi-Soviet pact - another 'supposed peace deal' that was equally effective.
Christmas Dinner is better than Thanksgiving anyway
Few Brits give a moment of thought to the 4th July. The 4th of July is as relevant to the U.K. as November 5th is to America
They used to mark it with fireworks as Pope Night until it was inconvenient in the 19th century and the fireworks were moved to July.
Hi Steve The average Brit living in the UK doesn't really think about it at all. It's only if they know any Americans then they will wish them a happy independence day but that's about it.
As for history in the UK we have a massive period of time before the USA was even a thing. We have over a thousand yrscof history so American history is such a tiny part of British history that it doesn't feature much in any history lessons in schools
Yes, tiny primary school children start off with the Romans. By the time they're 18 they still haven't covered every aspect of British history!
Never even heard it mentioned in my life till I got internet about 17 years ago..not sure if I saw any reference in America films..none that I recall..as everyone else points out..we have far too much more important history that changed Britain..apart from American involvement in HALF of the second world war I've never given them a thought..cowboys and Indians is all the interest I ever had..and that was just childhood..I've been far more interested in Canada where half my relatives live..
@@markianclark9645 first learned about it from Assassins Creed 3 - and from what I learned it seems that you guys sure got a lot of help from the Assassins :)
Let's not forget the indigenous Americans,and the horrific way the newly independent Americans treated them.
a major reason for the american independence movement was so that the colonies could push west without the British holding them back. The British had made prior peace deals with the natives and also felt that going to war with them would mean more trouble than it was worth. The Americans felt that the British were holding them back and so started a war.
without the war, it is likely that the natives would have been far better off. Given how the British Empire treated their other colonies (which was cruel and often very racist - but better than wiping them out)
@@tumblej8890
Statistically speaking an Empire is less racist than federations.
A lot of free labor didn't hurt.
@@tumblej8890 right like India, pakistan ,africa is better off
Winning the world wars, against Napoleon, the NHS, industrial revolution and so on. All take more precedence and interest than the American secession.
winning the world wars , really
As a Brit who lived in the US for 24 years I never experienced the “arrogant” July 4th-ers. I had a few hilariously ask me if we celebrate it in the UK to which I would laugh and say “no it’s just another Tuesday” 😂.
Was merely a bunch of soon-to-be ex-British people wanting to expel more British people because they didn’t like over-taxation.
I have to mention this, my wife and I were in Jamaica on holiday last week and there were many, many Americans at the hotel. They asked what the staff were going to do to celebrate 4th July and were extremely put out when told there was nothing planned!!
I mean, jamaica doesn't even celebrate its own independence. Why would they celebrate Americas?
Lol 😂😂😂😂
That is the ignorance and the arrogance of a lot of Americans. They really think the entire world revolves around USA. LOL.
I am British and other than knowing it is something done in the US, it means nothing to me. In reality, wars with other countries Britain was involved in elsewhere at the time were more concerning.
Also, with Britain being a trading nation, continuing trade between the new USA and Britain was very significant.
It's possible that if we, the British, had won the American War of Independence, we would have faced very serious opposition to the abolition of slavery - an institution that the US wrung their hands over for almost 100 years before the banks eventually burst with their civil war. It's still an issue for them today. It took them another 100 years to pass the 1965 Civil Rights Act.
Not even, had the British won they'd have been apart of the British Empire which purchased the freedom of EVERY slave in the Empire it was only paid back in 2015.
After all slavery was banned in the UK since 1066 with William the Conqueror, and the slavery abolitionist movement was already in place in the UK even before the independence war. It was a major reason that America wanted to seperate from Britian
@@tumblej8890 Yes, I think the "no taxation" stuff was a convenient cover. There was nothing like universal sufferage back in the home country until the 20th century.
@@johntomlinson6849 It also was a smoke screen for the American 'Manifest Destiny' that could not occur until Britain's 'ownership' of the colonies ended, and with that the rendering invalid of treaties Britain had made with the indigenous tribes that promised no expansion west of the Appalachian Mountains.
It was a lucky break. SORRY America but we realy dont think about it at all
Yes, we dodged a bullet there. lol
Why should we
of course it isnt taught in uk schools, wasnt even a major war. we have a lot more important history
They only won because all our best were off fighting more important wars elsewhere in the world, we had bigger fish to fry 😂
Right, because winning the war with America wouldn't have secured Great Britain as a global superpower. UK : "We had much bigger fish to fry than becoming a global superpower.." that's how you sound.
@@V0ltron you need to learn some history. France was a far bigger threat.
@@orwellboy1958Everyone should learn History... and I bet, they were America's allies. They were right next door to you. Enjoy that humble pie.
@@V0ltronBritain was the world super power...they controlled 25% of the world and held the largest empire ever seen before or since...so yep the war of independence was just a footnote with much larger fish to fry...the leadership of the uk didn't even care about the Americas they didn't support the army there much and felt it was too far away to bother spending the money on logistics that is necessary to win the war...plus another point it wasn't Americans that beat the English...it was English and other European immigrants who became American once they won :-) the founding fathers were mostly from Europe and understood their enemy because of this.
Patriotism is also being able to recognise what is wrong with your country and accept it,and doing what you can to change it.Patriotism is working to make the lives of your countrymen better
Very well said. Unfortunately some just think it's about who can wave the biggest flag and hating others.
That’s certainly not the way a portion, let’s say 35%, of the US sees it. They want nothing to change other than to go back to a faux-religious inspired agenda which excludes people if it doesn’t conform to their legacy ideals. They think they’re patriots tho 😂
Yes so that means not treating minorities like crap. Sorry if that sounds harsh but the USA seems to have gone backwards recently.
@@faithpearlgenied-a5517 And even more unfortunate is the hatred and intolerance amongst its citizens who hold seemingly unbridgeable religious/moral and political views.
Absolutely ! I’ve always said I criticise my country BECAUSE I’m patriotic and I want to be proud of my country and if they are doing the wrong thing I cannot be proud of that. I am however SO proud of the NHS and even poor Americans who can’t afford healthcare in Americas shameful big pharma con they STILL view free healthcare as “communism” rather than dare criticise the fact a pill that cost 30p / 50cents in uk can easily cost 30 dollars in the USA because of the shameful protectionism in the American medical market .
No one will criticise the great Usa and that’s why when. Some people get cancer they are declared bankrupt and literally are worth more to their families dead than alive because of those insurance companies which are immoral. But nothing changes and never will until you call it out.
I find it comical. They declared independence years before the end of the war in 1783 and the war ended in a treaty called the Paris Treaty signed in Paris, France. Does no one ask why their war of independence was ended in a treaty signed in Paris, France? They've completely written out of history _Marshal Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French nobleman and general whose army played a critical role in helping the United States defeat the British Army at Yorktown in 1781 during the American Revolutionary War_
A little real history: _Spanish, French, British, and American representatives signed a provisional peace treaty on January 20, 1783, proclaiming an end to hostilities. The formal agreement was signed at Paris on September 3, 1783. The U.S. Confederation Congress ratified the treaty on January 14_
So really their independence day is January 14th...
I believe the comte de Rochambeau is only reference to the Americans as the name for the game Rock/Paper/Scissors... Not much recognition for a French nobleman commanding an army aiding the American war of independence.
Like all history it's all fabricated, modified and revised to fit their current political and social beliefs. History isn't facts to them it's a story they support their culture with. Facts are just inconvenient truths they decide to ignore if it doesn't fit their narrative.
Many Americans act like history began when the settlers arrived there and have little knowledge of history beyond what happens in the US so it's not surprising they also don't even consider the involvement of non US nations in the war.
We did get told about the Boston Tea Party and the American War of Independence in History classes at school in the UK, but it was literally bushed over as part of one single lesson.
I think a lot of people in the 70s learned more about the Boston Tea Party from the Sensational Alex Harvey Band than they did in school
"I love my country" is patriotism.
"My country is the best of all countries" is nationalism.
Very happy for you, very grateful for us 😅
I don't know why you'd be so sure we'd learn about it other than a quick mention. We had thousands of years of history to learn, about our country and the world! Losing the US was such a tiny, insignificant part (no offence lol)
It means so much to me that I didn’t realise it had been the 4th of July until I saw the date on the 5th! I can’t remember it being mentioned in history lessons in school (admittedly that was many, many years ago!) I think we all love our various countries but mainly seem to be a bit more pragmatic rather than the unadulterated praise of a substantial amount of citizens of the USA, which smacks of jingoism rather than patriotism.
Hi Steve great vid, as an American how do you feel when the Philippines has its independence day? Not much probably, its an ex American colonial possession, for the UK now add another 100 more nations and peoples to the list of independence days we have a year. Not trying to be glib about it, these are all important for the people concerned, good on you, but it was 250 years ago so its just not that important for us, the same as when the French celebrate Bastille day, good on ya lads 👏 👍 🎉
This is a good way of putting it.
What Americans seem to forget is that without France spending a vast amount of money and resources (including troops and their navy) the war would have been over very quickly, and this actually helped lead to the French revolutionary war due to being close to bankrupcy (among other reasons). The money it would have cost the UK and with there being more important things to deal with as well as the vast cost it was just deemed not worth it.
Some Americans seems to have the "we did it on our own" mentality for a lot of wars but it's just not the case, and I think that's what upsets a lot of people, especially with the world wars.
The Americans always turn up late to the party then act like they were the heart of the party.
I thoroughly enjoy wishing Americans "Happy Traitors Day" every year. Most take it as the joke it is but some get offended and play the "How do you feel about....." ego card.
I just remind them America didn't exist until after the war, so technically we beat ourselves.
Usually puts them in their place.
😆
Got into a fun little argument with an american about how George Washington was a traitor. I live a stones throw away from Washington Old Hall, where his faimily lived when they were the Lords back then. If his faimily were English Lords then hes a Traitor. Simple as that. No hate to the americans though, its just a fun little tibbit to mention.
Telling them Benedict Arnold is a British hero also gives them pause before chuckling or taking offense.
If we had to learn about every country who gained independence from the UK we'd still be in school until our mid 30's
LOL now that is true.
😂😂😂
Most Brits honestly couldn't care less about it, you guys do you, i think it annoys us more that Americans think it annoys us lol
Exactly this 😂 it's their arrogance showing through. It's so big to them, they can't comprehend that it's nothing to us. Bless em, the US is a bit like an over enthusiastic, attention seeking child who needs a pat on the head.
The only date American's write properly
HAHA! Oh yeah! I hadn’t realised that!
You didn't write Americans properly
@@lukespooky I understood it just the same. Americans say weird stuff all the time, especially since Mr Webster made up his own version of English and created a dictionary just for Americans, thus destroying the etymology of English words! Take tire and tyre, or curb and kerb, as examples, all four words have different meanings but Webster deleted two of them!
@@lukespookyYou did not put a full stop at the end of your sentence.
First time I have commented on this channel, but I totally agree with the subject of this video. You are a good guy and your perspective is very realistic. Thanks.
Hi Steve,
I'm pretty sure I was taught about the American War of Independence as part of our on going difficulties with the French.
I think that's what it fell under when I was taught about it too, but it was just a tiny drop in both that long running saga and our history as a whole, so we didn't spend much time learning about it.
I see America as a sibling… not a cousin. I know about Independence Day and always make sure to wish my American friends a Happy Independence Day. I’m happy they are enjoying a wonderful time with friends and family. I’m so happy that on the whole we are a strongly bonded ally even after that happened.
Hope you had a wonderful time celebrating all the best from the UK
It wasn't really Americans against Brits..
It was ex Brits fighting against Brits...
Pretty sure had "Americans" won, the native Americans would have much better lives... 🙄
We do celebrate 4th July Steve... For the same reason you guys do! Lucky escape! 😂😂😂
Patriotism is one thing, what freaks us out is the thought of kids having to pledge allegiance every day in school. That wouldn't fly here. We mostly all love our country, but not necessarily the people running it at times. Our patriotism isn't really linked to politics or flags or pledges, but more to history and traditions. It's pride in our culture and identity.
It's a strange thing to celebrate winning a war I think. If we take World War Two as an example, we and our allies defeated the Nazis, and that's something to be proud of, but you don't really hear anyone here patting themselves on the back for "winning" the war. Certainly none of us alive now had anything to do with it anyway, but even older generations didn't brag about "winning the war" because, nobody wins at war. Germany also lost millions of young men, some still children when they were recruited, and whilst a lot of them may have fought with pride, most of them didn't really have a choice.
I think what we celebrated at the end of world war two, wasn't the winning as such...it was the relentless determination to endure and how it paid off in the end. My parents were born and lived in the East End of London, at the heart of the worst bombing. My Dad would play in the rubble on the streets, he did his national service after the war when he was old enough, but hadn't been old enough to fight during, although his older brothers did. My Nan and Granddad lived in the same flat before, during and after the war and refused to move. My Nan, like most other housewives, gave up pots and pans to be melted down for ammunition and rationing was so severe it lasted until 1954 I believe.
Listening to my grandparents, parents and aunts and uncles when i was growing up, I never heard any hint of bragging, instead it was pride in the British people en masse, for refusing to roll over and give in. They would burst into songs or burst into laughter reminiscing about those years, even though you'd think they hadn't had much to laugh about. British pride tends to be about not giving up or giving in, even when the odds are stacked against you. It's a matter of principle and sheer indignation at someone's bare faced cheek! We really do KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON.
I do think the Americans and Brits differ greatly when it comes to conceitedness and arrogance, and i think it has a lot to do with you being raised under a flag and told to love it.
Americans tend to brag about winning, about BEING the best, whereas Brits are more proud of DOING their best, regardless if they win or not. The only time you'll really hear us rubbing someone's nose in our victory, is perhaps football if England play Germany in the World Cup, or for telling Americans we celebrate 4th July because WE were the ultimate winners with our lucky escape! 😂 But, Americans do tend to make that a satisfactory pleasure because of their (typical) arrogance. It makes them so easy to wind up! 🤣
The fact you dislike arrogance so much proves there's more Brit in you than just some past ancestry. You've got more than a hint of Britain still coursing through your veins Steve! Especially in your eyes when looking at our buildings and history. That's what it is to be British really, the connection to our history, and keeping our traditions alive, even if some of them are completely bonkers! 🤪
Being of British descent on my mom's side I totally agree with your statement: "Our patriotism isn't really linked to politics or flags or pledges, but more to history and traditions. It's pride in our culture and identity." So much so that when I holidayed in GB, I did not feel as if I were in a foreign country.
My mom told me of the letters from her cousins in England during WWII recounting the bombings.
At the risk of attracting 'haters', the Canadian Identity was once defined as 'not being American'. 🍁
@@chong2389 well you're in the Americas...but you're Canadian, so you're very similar to us. ♥️
I'm glad you felt welcome and at home when you came here. We like people, we like talking and we like to get to know about other people's lives.
Just a couple of miles down the road from me, and I can actually just about see it from my house, is a castle, which the public can visit and see some of the stately rooms within. But the rest of the castle is actually a Canadian school for exchange students! 😘😘😘
@@chong2389 Queen's University....Bader College...
Here's a little snippet from their details....
An outstanding opportunity whatever your level of study
Queen's University is the only university in Canada where students can complete their entire first year of study overseas. Take advantage of our small class sizes and start university life with us. Find out more about our First Year programming here.
The revolutionary war was tragic in a way as it was brothers fighting brothers. What were essentially overseas British citizens and former soldiers taking up arms against the government. The general public back in Britain campaigned pretty hard to end the war so I’ve never really viewed it as a defeat, more so conceding to popular sentiment
He's not being arrogant it's just his british sarcastic sense of humour which all your uk viewers will get,all I can say is that's just how we are.
To be fair, the French won it for you 😅 who would have thought the French would have done us such a kind favour?
Which then bankrupted them and led to the Revolution...
Not just the French, Spanish and Dutch also. The British Empire was fighting 3 empires while also fighting the 13 colonies and all of them nearly lost to an army that was nothing more than a token force sent lmfao.
Im the same as you. I hate the arrogance of some people on both sides of the pond with winning and losing. Always seems to come up whenever america and the uk are against each other in sports etc. The most annoying one is us brits would be speaking german if it wasnt for the yanks. It was a joint effort guys. allied forces being exactly that allies!!!
Doesn't bother me either way, I'll happily wish my US cousins across the pond a happy independence day 🎉
Happy 4th Steve to you and your fellow countrymen 🎉
It’s good to see you celebrating your wonderful country. That’s how I feel about it as a Brit. I don’t think many UK peeps see it as anything more than a country celebrating its history , certainly no ill feelings or resentment at all
My ancestor was Phillip Singh - a master silversmith whose family was originally from Ireland, who made the inkstand into which the "pen" was dipped to sign the American Independence document. The inkstand still exists and is beautifully crafted. He was there at the signing with his good friend Benjamin Franklin having both studied the origin and then invention of electricity together.
As a brit living in south London I've been to the States on July 4th and had a great time but can't confess to having any real thoughts about independence day except for our chairman and owner of Millwall FC that was a truly great American gentleman and was loved at our club but died on Tuesday 4th July 2023 in a tragic car accident in Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts......RIP MR JOHN BERYLSON.........respect.
The only thing I remember learning about the American War of Independence in school was when we studied the French Revolution in year 9. Apparently, one of the causes of the underlying discontent in France before the revolution was that French soldiers had fought for Americans to have rights that they didn't have back home.
I wonder how many times the national anthem was sung on the 4th of July, and I wonder how many people knew it was sung to the tune of a British song? oh the irony 😂
We've been through a lot together and the friendship gets stronger as time goes on. My father was a Royal Marine in WW2 & met a soldier from Boston. They stayed friends all their lives after the war, visiting each other, exchanging Christmas gifts & letter writing throughout the years and that instilled a great loyalty from my brother & I for Americans. We share a language, enjoy each other's music, cinema, TV and other art forms & unite in the sad times. I think we're lucky to have each other so, personally, when the 4th July comes around all I want is for the USA to have a great time.
Well, July the 4th in the UK is the annual birthday of the founding of our NHS (National Health Service on 04/07/1947).
If I hear anyone talking about it, I breathe a sigh of relief and get one with my life. If not, I do not even notice.
Nothing at all, theres more than one independence day per week from the British empire. The only thing i think really is do Americans actually know why it all happened. Also they do teach it in English schools but in passing as its not really that important. And as for the US defeated the British empire it certainly isnt so they wouldn't lf stood a chance if the British actually valued it. And you're absolutely right its not like anyone was actually involved in it.
Steve it's not even thought of , I don't think I even learnt about it in school , I suppose it's just a blip in our long history . Bless you I agree arrogance is not an attractive trait .
Hi Steve, in my home town of Hastings we have an area called the America Ground. In the early 1800 it was a somewhat lawless and contested area. Bailiffs were appointed to clear the undesirables but the residents rioted and raised the Stars and Stripes to show their independence and kept it flying until the end of their occupation. Today it is celebrated by the name and remembered with a wall painting of the American flag close to what was the entrance to the area of "The America Ground".
I'm British, but I can't abide that untypical Brit in the pink bins. He is a grumble and grunt to put it into slang
He gets on my last nerve. Hasn’t lived in the U.K. for decades.
I agree, I keep saying in my comments that Steve should not keep watching him, he's not actually getting any insight into the way we think and our attitudes. He's getting what the idiot thinks is happening.
@@paulfranklin8636 he’s pandering to an American audience, the way he talks about us is very uneducated and sometimes offensive.🏴🇬🇧
@@paulfranklin8636 You got it
@@kimarnill7648 Agreed
Britain lost a few relatively small colonies when we had more important wars going on at the time. American independence is not taught at all in schools, nor that of Nigeria, Jamaica, Egypt, Kenya plus the 50+ others who have gained independence, many of whom joined the British Commonwealth as a result. It is really nothing at all. We only actually hear about it because our news TV shows Americans banging on about it. Enjoy your day. 😉
Lucky escape for us Brits.
Bullet dodged.
I've never thought about it ever to be honest. It's just not a thing outside of the US. I'm more likely to think of the film than anything to be honest.
Same
Hi Steve, Yes the 4th of July is totally an American thing, and so it should be. It's great that Americans have pride and patriotism in the success you gained. We at home here in the Uk are aware of your Independence day celebrations, and speaking for myself, I hope you all had a fantastic time. As mentioned below, we don't really mention the revolutionary war other than to make reference when learning about the war against France and Spain, which as you know we were fighting at the same time. But again, we don't tend to celebrate individual victories or losses of any war to be truthful. We have armistice day (or rememberance Sunday) which is obviously a solomn occasion, but a recognition of all who have given the supreme sacrifice for our Nation from all wars throughout our history.
We don't even celebrate the results of our own civil war, which when you look at it, and as mentioned by you here, is what the Independance war was, brother against brother. Do Americans celebrate your Civil war? or alternatively do they recognise the fall of Fort Washington and the Battle of White House Landing in 1814?
The only real celebration day we have is the 5th of November and the gunpowder plot of 1605
'Remember, remember the 5th of November,
Of Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no good reason, why gunpowder and treason,
should ever be forgot.'
This we celebrate with Bonfires, fireworks, soup, mushy peas and mint sauce, Bonfire Toffee, Toffee apples, tea or coffee, or pop (soda) for the kids. No alcohol as it's a family day, but those who want to inbibe just go to the Pub instead 🙂
Keep up the good work .... Terry UK
To Americans it was the most important day in your history, to us Brits it was a Wednesday.
With Vietnam, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq and coming dead late to the 2 world wars America kind of needs to fixate on it one and only true win
And the french gave it to them
Laurence is now US citizen he loves America . If you watch all his videos he talks about as a child having loving USA. I personally don’t think or have any interest when it’s 4th July. No we didn’t learn it in school it’s not relevant
The Today I Found Out channel has a good video about how we are taught about the Revolutionary War in the UK - maybe worth a look for you. Simon Whistler presents it, and it was posted 2 years ago.
I always wish my American friends happy 4th July, what's important now is maintaining our special relationship .
Not everyone is as unaware as the guy in the video. I think most Brits have at least a basic understanding of what happened in 1776. But saying that, July 4th is not really a thing in the UK. We don't celebrate it, but we don't "mourn" the loss of America either. When we think of July 4th we think of Americans eating too much and dressing up in silly outfits and celebrating and watching fireworks.
I'm Scottish, and I rarely think about American Independence. I do find the history of Scottish migration to the US interesting but I genuinely rarely think about American Independence. There's just such a lot of history to learn. When I was at secondary school in the eighties and early nineties we focussed on modern history, but what we really learned was the skills of an historian - researching, evaluating sources, and undertaking our own research projects. They couldn't go into depth and yet cover a wide range of subjects. At Primary School we did Norman invasion of England, the Stuart dynasty, and the Industrial revolution in Britain. Scottish primary schools now tend to focus on what was happening in Scotland a lot more than they did when I was there. I don't think our schools had an huge amount of funding either - so I'm guessing that influenced what they taught, if they've got thirty copies of a textbook and the teacher knows that topic, they're not going to suddenly decide to teach something entirely new.
I don't remember even learning much about the British Empire - we tended to focus more on social history, and we learned about other countries in our Geography and Modern Studies classes. We DID study a bit of American history for our Higher course (our version of the A Level) - but that was as part of learning about the Cold War.
I do have one question though - out of all of the nations who were part of the British Empire and gained independence, why would we focus on the U.S? I personally think that teaching things like the Partition of India would be much more relevant to school pupils today, so many of whom would have had ancestors directly affected by it.
Your celebrations do sound like good fun though, I hope you've had a blast. I love those sorts of community events. I completely agree about your sentiments on patriotism.💚 I did think Laurence's cousin-in - law quietly and slowly edging him out of the tent was funny though🤣
Aye.
I enjoyed the rant. You seem like a decent fella!
The average British person, thinks nothing about it...... Have a great day, but it means nothing to us.
I'm afraid the 4th of July passed me by the same as the previous 76. I would like you consider over 100 countries owe their independence from the UK so we ignore their independence days, hard to keep up with them all.😀😀
Yeah, we don't really focus on it much, the American War of Independence is kind of a footnote for us, we were far more concerned with France at the time, and it's generally referred to as an extension of one of the moves France made against us while we were squabbling with them.
It was never mentioned in my education.. it was irrelevant.
I'm British (Scottish) and I think it's incredibly insulting to native Americans, considering the country was stolen from them. Aside from that no we aren't taught about it in school, we learn European history.
I am also British (Scottish) and was taught, though very briefly about the American fight for independence. We were taught about world history. But then, I'm a Highlander and we were taught better than most Scots. 😉
@Thurgosh_OG I'm a highlander too! We all have the same curriculum though. Except up here we're taught gaelic.
Americans think that it was a wonderful victory, we think of it as a 'lucky escape'.
Especially for the United Empire Loyalists. Lucky indeed!
Remember, we have a lot of history to learn. From what I remember of school, we started with the Bronze Age. then the Iron Age, then the Roman Invasion of Britain. Through the Dark Ages, to the Tudors, the dicovery of the Americas and the formation of the British Empire. That is about as far as I got. All my modern history has come from TV and movies.
As well as what isnm42yt mentioned, we also covered a bit about the Stone Age too, but not a huge amount (less than I would have liked). Along with covering the Vikings, Anglo-Saxons, local (regional) history, English Civil War, Slave Trade (both the horrors of it and the abolition of the slave trade), the Industrial Revolution, small bits about various wars with Europe, mostly bits about France and then obviously the two world wars. There are probably other bits I've forgotten to mention. Oh, like the Crusades. I'll probably think of a few more things as soon as I post this. I didn't do History as a GCSE, so only had 9 years of it at school. That wasn't a lot of time to cram everything in when there's so much to learn. I've learnt more since leaving school and now thankfully know more than I didn't about some European history that didn't directly impact or involve us, so we were never taught. I was at school in the 90s so history stopped at WWII for me at school. Now they likely have stuff about the Cold war, fall of the USSR, Apartheid in South Africa etc. Stuff that wasn't history when I was younger. It was current. I imagine that's now taught, so other stuff is probably skimmed over more than it used to be. We have a long history and as years pass by, that history gets longer.
4th of July is just one of those things for me that, as soon as we get into July, I remember and say "oh yeah, the 4th of July is coming up" and then proceed to forget about it. It just isn't important to us.
Now the 5th of November. On the days leading up to it I'll have a think on if I want to go to a fireworks display or maybe get some sparklers and glowsticks. Either way, I always watch the fireworks that go off near me and it's not a day I tend to forget about.
Yeah, I think you'll find you will sunburn much quicker in England at this time of year. Everybody glows golden brown in central and southern England during a typical summertime.
Then, let's not get started on the usual sweating from the ridiculously muggy humidity in England at this time of year. Fancy another 10-15C on top of the shade temperatures anyone?!
The colonies revolting was a unimportant sideshow because we had wars to fight and 13 little colonies weren't worth the effort.
It's taught a little more tactfully than that, but that's the footnotes version from a British perspective.
Few people mention or know about the indipendance day in the UK.
Celibrated in the town of Queensborough on the 24th June each year on the Island of Sheppy, Kent England. To celebrate gaining indipendence from the Dutch 300 years after they invaded in 1667.
It's not taught in our schools because it's just not important enough. Our history teachers have a lot to get through.
We wish you a happy independence day but really it's something we hardly notice enjoy
We celebrate 24th August (1812), Happy decorating the Whitehouse day. 😉👍
Mind you on April 22, 1778, Commander John Paul Jones leads a detachment from his ship, the USS Ranger and invaded the port of Whitehaven, England
There are 65 countries that celebrate their independence day from the British . So we don't think about anyone that celebrate it.
Well, do we think about Guy Fawkes Day? No, because it doesn't pertain to our history. Same is true for them -- July 4th is just an ordinary day for the Brits, just like 5th of November is an ordinary day for us.
If the Gunpowder Plot had murdered the king and Parliament, the plan was to install a minor Catholic noblewoman as queen and have her as a puppet of Spain. The rest of this conversation would need to be in Spanish. The USA would not have come into being, so perhaps Americans should care.
" I love seeing patriotism" is the most American sentence I've ever heard.
In London on July 4th I’ve heard American tourists berating shops and restaurants for not celebrating Independence Day and also Americans visiting other countries and upset that there are no flags and other celebrations there either.
Is it so difficult to understand that the US is the ONLY country to have this special time ???
I always remember about 3 or 4 days later ( like now ) …. So hope you had a happy 4th of July
Steve, can I turn this around and ask what history lessons in the US schools cover? Do you learn anything about the history of other continents?
Of course not Americans are insular we follow their elections special programmes I'm actually not interested they know nothing and don't care about our elections
Lawrence, I think you need to spend a summer in Britain again & you'll be sure to sunburn the quickest.
i think the way patriotism in the US is expressed is very different to the UK and can seem a bit alien to Brits looking at it from the outside which i’m guessing would be the same the other way round.
That was an epic rant at the beginning.
Broadly: the UK spent a fortune defending the colonies during the Seven Years Wars, tried to recoup the cost via taxation, it didn't sit well with the British people who lived in the colonies. Canada by contrast, was pretty cool about it.
Yes, those in British North America were grateful for what General Wolfe did on the Plains of Abraham as well as being the place where those living in the 13 colonies could escape the persecution and violence of the colonists who rebelled.
Everyone in the states forgets that the Continental Congress also included Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, PEI, Newfoundland, Barbados and others, none of which chose to revolt.
Very few people will talk about it now, but one of the leading causes of the 'win' was Britain simply pulling out of the war to go fight else where it was more important. The Americans (former colonist) were left to their own devices for some years while Britain went about abolishing slavery under the Empire.
As slavery was never legally recognized in England, it was not legal to buy and sell slaves for use in England, even though some people were still treated as slaves. Thus because of that, the Somerset case of 1772 held that slavery had no basis in English law, and this ruling helped to establish that slaves could not be forcibly transported out of England against their will. This was of course prior to the 1776 American independence, and in part why the war happened (or rather won).
Remembering, that former colonies of the Americas wasn't just the British, it was the French, Spanish, Dutch and other European countries of the time, many of whom had now been born in America when they decided they wanted to keep their slaves and not follow the British. Britain went about hitting their home lands in trade slavery.
It wasn't until Britain went around the world and quite literally forced countries to stop trading slaves, that slavery under the British Empire was abolished with the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833 with America finally falling inline in 1865 - one of the last countries in the world.
The very fact that you sit there now, not a slave nor do you have slaves is because the British empire went away and made it happen. You were allowed to have the land you walk on, and the people that live there freely because the British abolished slavery.
also when you think about americans winning the war saying they beat us they also include their own ancestors in that sentence as a big portion of early america came from england, scotland, Ireland and wales so .... yep
I was taught about the war of independence at school, on the 4th of July. My history teacher was a yankophile, having been born there, but grew up here (he dropped early when his parents were on holiday). Most of the 'british' were colonial citizens who opposed the revolution.
I remember the lesson well because he only had one double lesson to cover it (most topics got a full term of one or two history classes a week. One main topic got the double lesson and the other two single hour lessons were devoted to less complex topics but still lasted a full term). So he devoted much more care to the lesson plan to get everything in in two hours. He split the blackboard in two withnthe dividing line being the Atlantic. He took us through the sequence of events. Much of the time, nothing was happening in Britain. This was a diplomatic affair. Colonial revolutionaries fighting colonial loyalists over whether to let tea be taxed. The most the public of Britain did at the time was start drinking more tea. If they could afford it. Which most couldn't.
Britain was far more worried about France and other European nations. Napoleon had just been defeated and Britain was broke. It had spent and borrowed a fortune. Much of that, but by no means all, was spent defending the American colonies against french raids. The colonies were getting much of their suppliss from Europe and those ships were laden with crew, goods and money. The French knew that for every ship intercepted, Britain would have to replace at cost, distracting from the war effort. Later, direct assaults by French forces on the colonies become a possibility and many crews of royal marines were sent to defend the ccolonies and died in battle. After that war, all colonies and territories were asked to pay extra taxes to help pay off the debt and replenish the military. The American colonies (the rich merchants there) kept refusing to pay. There was no will to send the military all the way across the Atlantic and the problem was very much left with the local colonial governors and councils. Eventually, some bureaucrats got miffed at being ignored and the matter was sent to the houses of Parliament. No one cared, but to save face, to make a token gesture, the import tax on tea was levied and it came with a note (ok, seriously now, pay this) and instead of merchant marines, royal marines. No body to take tea from the dock without payment of tax first. Tax being due as soon as it 'landed'. Hence throwing the tea into the water rather than letting it land.
The land owners and merchants had been very clever. To avoid paying taxes they'd been whipping up the workers with the idea of constant taxes and no representation. The workers hadn't been paying taxes because they couldn't afford to buy the things it was levied on. The elites hadn't been paying either, but they HAD been buying those products. No worker had the right to vote anywhere in the Empire, only landowners had the right and and in the colonies the same was true. The land owners could vote for the councilors and they controlled most things under the Governor, who was selected the same way as a Lord in the house of lords. By the King. (Or a lackey, in his name).
The rank and file revolutionary did not get much benefit from the change in master. They still couldn't vote until they owned land and they still had to pay local taxes like before. Just now, the money were going to the people who told them to be angry about taxation without representation.
There was also the topics of native people and slaves. Voices against slavery were becoming louder in Britain as religious groups like the Quakers began to make headway. The British government had made deals with local native peoples not to expand in their territory and seemed serious about it (for the time being). Those rich landowners really liked that land to the west... they didn't like being told they had to leave it alone and respect nativve sovereignty. (I have no doubt the policy would have changed sooner rather than later, but at the time the founding elites wanted that land and the law said 'tough shit').
Finally, there were the French. Recently defeated but with significant experience fighting the British and still well armed, the revolutionary leaders reached out to them and hired them to fight the loyalist colonials and any troops that arrived from Europe. The same forces who had been trying to kill colonial citizens were now being hired as mercenaries to fight those who had defended the colonies from them, so that the taxes to repay for the defense of colonies could stay in the pockets of the rich revolutionary leadership.
Ultimately, the war was too much hassle to commit to and thus the British never truly committed. The effort to wrangle the colonies at that distance was just not worth the meagre income the taxes would provide. Trade would still flow and the savings in administration costs would go a fair way to replace the lost taxes.
Yet in America, people were stunned. Especially the poor. They had been sold the idea of the monstrous tyrannical empire who wanted to subjigate them and they had fought and won (albeit behind a line of french mercenaries). For decades the newly formed American psyche was terrified that an attack was coming. That Britain would suddenly invade and take back the colonies ... but nothing happened. Britain was the big evil. As such the new American psyche couldn't really accept their history as British citizens. It's the main reason that Americans will call themselves Irish American or Scots American etc but never English American. English Americans just called themselves American. That early American psyche was fragile and tried to support themselves by tying in very noble and grand principles to their declarations. We the people, the shining light on the hill, etc. This was in large part to combat imposter syndrome. They couldnt quite comprehend that they'd won and were immensely eagre to legitimise themselves as a nation rather than a rebellious movement. Despite the grand words, the laws still considered a black man 3 fifths of a man. There was no great rush to support the poor who had bled or the families of those who had died for independence.
It has as much relevance as Guy Fawkes night.Just a footnote in history and an excuse for fireworks and a bit of a party.
A Lot of Americans don't seem to realise that US independence isn't a big part of British history because it just wasn't that important for us.
I thought it was the British mainly fighting other Brits with a few French thrown in 😂
I believe that's one of the main reasons we let them have independence - we had achieved everything - they spoke our language and looked like us, they held our values, we could trade with them.
And Spanish and Dutch
I love how you guys in chat say "uk haven't won a war without the US"
Could say the same about Vietnam.....
I'm fairly sure that Chainsaw Jim is a fictitious character he's made up for humourous effect. There are a few of them, including Uncle Toby, his wife's cousin Chad and Suburban Sue.
Im English and on July 4th i posted an American flag with the headline "HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY AMERICA " bcos i love you guys. Plus i have family in Richmond VA